3 Journal Prompts for When You’re Struggling to Let Go

When God Asks You to Release What Feels Safe

Letting go sounds easy until God actually asks us to do it.

It’s one thing to sing, “I surrender all,” on Sunday.

And another to loosen your grip on the very things that make you feel secure—control, timing, comfort, even identity.

The truth is, surrender sounds beautiful in theory… until it costs something.

Maybe that’s where you are.

Caught between knowing God’s way is better and still wanting to hold on to what feels familiar.

I’ve been there too. For me, surrender wasn’t about loss.

It was about rediscovering who I really am in Christ.

Through journaling, prayer, and small acts of obedience, I learned that letting go is the beginning of freedom.

These faith-based journal prompts for letting go are here to guide you through that same journey.

They will help you release control, process emotions, and trust God’s timing again.

If your heart longs to live lighter and walk in peace, you are invited to join the waitlist for Surrendered, my 14-Day Devotional Journal. This journal was designed to help women release what’s heavy and rebuild in God’s grace.

Why Surrender Is So Hard (And Why It Matters)

We all hold on to things God asks us to release because control feels safer than trust.

Maybe it’s perfectionism that whispers, “You can’t mess this up.”

Or people-pleasing that says, “Don’t disappoint anyone.”

Or perhaps it’s the need to know what’s coming next.

Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us gently:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Surrender is difficult because it challenges the very places we’ve built our sense of safety.

Yet it’s in releasing control that we find clarity, especially through journaling.

When we write, we notice what’s really driving us:

• the fear of failing again

• the exhaustion of over-giving

• the patterns that keep us stuck.

But as we surrender, we begin to make room for healing and transformation.

Reclaiming your identity in Christ might look like:

• Starting the business God placed in your heart

• Breaking the cycle of starting and never finishing

• Putting yourself first without guilt

• Setting boundaries with family and friends

• Taking better care of your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit

• Saying no to comparison and yes to celebration

These are not just goals; they’re signs of a surrendered life.

Journaling helps you uncover what’s standing between you and that freedom.

If you’re curious about how journaling can deepen your faith and help you process what’s hard to release, you may also enjoy reading 5 Ways Journaling Helps You Let Go and Trust God.

Prompt 1: “Lord, show me what I’m still holding on to.”

This first prompt is your mirror moment.

We can’t release what we refuse to recognize.

Often, we say we’ve surrendered something, but deep down, our hearts are still clinging to fear, guilt, or control.

How to Use This Prompt:

Find a quiet space. Pray honestly:
“Lord, show me what I’m still holding on to—the fears, habits, or beliefs that keep me from fully trusting You.”

Then write. Don’t filter or edit. Let it pour out.

Maybe you’re holding on to:

• The fear of launching that dream or ministry

• The need to prove your worth through busyness

• A scarcity mindset that says, “There’s not enough for me”

• The comfort of staying hidden instead of being seen

Faith Reflection:
What lies have you believed about yourself or God?
Where have you tried to control what only He can handle?
What would it look like to finally let Him lead?

As you write, remember God can’t heal what we keep hiding.

Pour it out and make room for peace to settle where anxiety once lived.

Prompt 2: “What would it look like if I truly trusted You with this?”

Once you’ve identified what you’re holding on to, this prompt invites you to imagine freedom.

This is where you let faith paint a new picture:

One where fear no longer dictates your decisions, and trust becomes your resting place.

How to Use This Prompt:

Ask God to show you: “If I truly trusted You, what would my life look like?”

You might write about:

• Finally starting that business or book God placed on your heart

• Setting healthy boundaries and choosing rest

• Breaking the habit of self-sabotage

• Caring for your body through sleep, nourishment, and joy

• Rejoicing with others instead of comparing yourself to them

End your journaling with faith declarations like:

• “I trust God’s timing for my life.”

• “I am being prepared, not left behind.”

• “I release control and choose peace.”

Faith Reflection:

Like Peter stepping out on water in Matthew 14: 22-33, the miracle doesn’t happen because you understand every step.

It happens because you trust the One calling you forward.

If you’ve ever wondered how surrendering can lead to unexpected calm and clarity, you might love The Surprising Peace That Comes Through Surrender.

Prompt 3: “What truth from Your Word do I need to hold onto right now?”

Letting go doesn’t leave your hands empty.

It frees them to hold on to truth.

When you’re surrendering something deep, you need Scripture to anchor you.

God’s Word steadies the heart when feelings waver.

How to Use This Prompt:

Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a verse for this season.

Then write it, reflect on it, and rewrite it as a personal declaration.

Try these:

• Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV — “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
  and lean not on your own understanding;
  6 in all your ways submit to him,
  and he will make your paths straight.”

• Philippians 4:6–7 NIV — “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

• Psalm 46:10 NIV — “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
  I will be exalted among the nations,
  I will be exalted in the earth.””

• Jeremiah 29:11 NIV — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Journaling Tip:

Draw two columns: Letting Go | Holding On

On one side, list what you’re releasing (fear, guilt, doubt).

On the other, write the truth you’re choosing (trust, grace, peace).

Faith Reflection:

You’re not losing control; you’re gaining peace.

Every verse you write becomes a weapon against fear and a reminder that God is still in control

Mini FAQ: Let’s Talk About Journaling & Surrender

1. What if I struggle to stay consistent?

Start small. One paragraph, one prayer, one verse.

God isn’t grading your effort—He’s meeting you in it.

2. How long should I journal each day?

There’s no rule. Some days it’s a sentence, others it’s pages.

What matters is honesty, not length.

3. What if I can’t hear God clearly yet?

His silence isn’t absence. Keep writing.

Sometimes revelation comes slowly, like dawn after a long night.

The first part of Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;”

Prayer for You: A Surrendered Heart

Lord, for the woman reading this—You know what she’s been holding on to. You see the tears she doesn’t show, the dreams she’s afraid to try again, the faith she’s fighting to keep. Remind her that surrender isn’t losing. It’s learning to trust You more deeply.

Show her how to release control and rest in Your timing. Where fear once ruled, plant faith. Where shame lingers, pour grace. Teach her that she is safe in Your hands, and that peace is possible even in uncertainty.

May her journal become a sacred space. A place where she meets You on every page, finds courage to let go, and discovers freedom in Your love.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.

Next Step

If your heart is ready to release, realign, and rest, I invite you to join the waitlist for Surrendered:14 Days to Release & Renew, a guided devotional journal to help you release what’s heavy, renew your mind, and rediscover peace in God’s presence.

Share Your Journey

If this blessed you, I’d love to cheer you on.

Share your journal journey on Pinterest and tag @thezoelifebyalberta or send a note to alberta@thezoelifebyalberta.co.uk with a line about what God is doing through your journaling.

With your permission, I may feature select testimonies to encourage other women.

With so much love,

Alberta

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