Reverend Mike had told me to forgive him, but I didn’t.
It hurt too much to forgive him. Why should I?
Stephen had shattered my heart. He played with my emotions, took my time, my energy, and all I had to offer. I loved him deeply, but I sacrificed everything only to be left in pain.
Our relationship started in school. Stephen was the prayer coordinator of our campus fellowship, and I was the general secretary. Our responsibilities brought us together, and before I realized it, we had fallen for each other.
People called us love birds. The kind of couple others would admire and say, “Mentor me! I want a relationship like yours.” We seemed perfect on the outside. But, as I would soon learn, appearances can be deceiving.
When we graduated from school, things changed. Stephen stopped communicating with me. I tried—oh, I tried—to keep us connected, reaching out over and over, but he always had excuses. His once comforting words turned into cold, malicious responses.
Then it happened. Stephen dumped me.
I couldn’t believe it, but it was real. After all we shared, he cast me aside like I meant nothing. If a man of God, a prayer coordinator, could treat me this way, how could I ever trust anyone else?
Letting go of what we had, felt impossible. I loved him, but looking back, I realized he was only using me to pass the time. Yet, my heart still clung to the hope of what could have been.
For seven long years, I carried the weight of that heartbreak. Seven years of bitterness and mistrust. My heart was cold, and I couldn’t open myself to anyone else. Every time I thought about Stephen, the pain surged fresh like it had just happened.
Reverend Mike had encouraged me repeatedly, “Amaka, let go. Move on.” But I couldn’t. I refused.
Then one day, while studying the scriptures, I heard a voice. The Spirit of God spoke to me clearly: “Let go.”
I started to cry, knowing in my heart why I had been holding on. I had allowed the bitterness to take root, and it was destroying me. The pain and guilt I carried for so long had trapped me.
I fell to my knees and prayed, asking God to help me release the burden. It was as if a heavy weight was lifted from my soul. I cried bitterly, but in those tears, I found healing.
I slept on that very spot, and when I woke up, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years—peace.
The next day, I went to Reverend Mike and told him what had happened. He helped me walk through the healing process and taught me how to move forward properly.
Seven years of my life had been consumed by anger and pain. But now, I had finally let go.
My name is Amaka, and this is my story. Don’t be like me. Don’t hold on to hurt, pain, or people who don’t value you. It’s not worth it.
Today, I am happily married. My husband is my best friend, my protector, my everything. He treats me like the queen I am. Good men still exist, but I couldn’t see that until I let go of the past.
So, I tell you: Let go. Only when you release the pain can you open your heart to God’s beautiful future in store for you.
~ Written by The Book Virtuoso