The Power of Letting Go – Healing and Forgiveness
Bob Yandian
The Bible tells us plainly in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” It doesn’t say He can’t hear you because He’s too far away. It says He won’t. That means He makes a decision not to respond when we knowingly hold sin, bitterness, or unforgiveness in our hearts.
Some believers are trying to walk in divine healing while harboring things that are unresolved with others—or even unresolved within themselves. It’s not that God doesn’t want to heal you. It’s not that healing isn’t provided. It’s that these things, spiritual baggage, are choking out the blessing.
The Two Adams and the Root of the Curse
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
The fall of Adam opened the door for both spiritual death and physical death—including sickness and disease. You didn’t choose to be born in sin. You were born into it. You were born spiritually dead because of Adam’s sin. That’s why the Bible says all have sinned, even those not yet born, because it’s inherited.
There were two Adams. The first Adam, who brought sin into the world. And the last Adam, Jesus Christ, who came to undo what the first Adam did. He is not called the second Adam; He is the last Adam. Because there won’t be a third. Jesus got it right.
Adam was the federal head of the human race. But now Jesus is our new head. And whereas we were born into Adam’s curse without a choice, we now have a choice to be born again into Christ’s blessing.
The sin that brought the curse of sickness can now be replaced by the righteousness that brings healing. It’s that simple. Healing isn’t earned; it’s received by making the same decision you made when you received salvation.
A Slave Can’t Free a Slave
Adam and Eve walked into the slave market of sin and shut the gate behind them. Since they were the only humans on earth, all their children were born inside the slave market. That includes every king, every prophet, every religious leader, Buddha, Muhammad, all born in the same slave market of sin.
And here’s the problem—a slave can’t free a slave. It takes someone outside the slave market to come and unlock the gate. That someone was Jesus.
Born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, He was born outside the slave market. He was the seed of the woman prophesied in Genesis 3. And when He died and rose again, He took the keys of death and hell and opened the gate wide. Now all we have to do is walk out. That’s salvation. Healing is the same way. The door’s already open. All you have to do is receive it.
Forgiveness and Healing—Side by Side
Matthew 9:1-7, they brought to Jesus a man sick with palsy—paralyzed, lying on a bed. And what’s the first thing Jesus says to him? “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
The religious leaders were offended. “Who can forgive sins but God?” But Jesus didn’t back down. He said, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Rise and walk’?” And then He healed the man right in front of them.
Jesus was showing that both forgiveness and healing are provided by the same redemptive work. Neither one is harder for God. If you can believe God to forgive you, you can believe Him to heal you. If you can accept Jesus as your Savior, you can accept Him as your Healer.
And the key moment in that story is when Jesus tells the man, “Be of good cheer.” Why? Because discouragement was what was holding him back. And the reason for his discouragement? Guilt.
The Greek tense where Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven,” is perfect tense. That means it had already happened. Jesus was saying, “You’ve been forgiven since the time you asked.”
But that man couldn’t forgive himself. And there are many believers who fall into that same trap. You know God forgave you, but you’re still punishing yourself. And that inner torment—that guilt and condemnation—is standing in the way of your healing.
Unforgiveness—whether it’s toward others or toward yourself—is like a clog in your spiritual pipe. It doesn’t stop God from being good. It just stops you from receiving.
Sin Held Inward Stops Blessing Outward
God never designed for us to just receive forgiveness and ignore healing—or receive healing and ignore forgiveness. The two travel together. If there is unresolved sin in your life that you haven’t brought before the Lord, deal with it. If there is someone you haven’t forgiven—even if that someone is yourself—deal with it. Unforgiveness doesn’t cancel your salvation, but it will make you carnal. It will choke your faith. It will rob your healing.
James 5:15-16 says, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed.”
Healing and confession—side by side. Don’t ignore one and expect to walk in the other.
Jesus – The Bread and the Cup
When we take communion, we see this picture clearly. The cup represents His blood—forgiveness of sins. The bread represents His body—healing for our diseases.
First Corinthians 11:29-30 says, “He who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”
Notice it says, “Not discerning the Lord’s body”—not His blood. We know the blood is for forgiveness. But some have forgotten what the bread is for. And because they don’t recognize the healing provided by Jesus’ body, they stay sick. Some die early.
This isn’t about being perfect. This is about recognizing the full provision of the cross. Discern the body. Receive the healing. Stop thinking God only forgave your sins. He also bore your sickness.
Healing Is for Purpose
Why does God want you well? So you can be a blessing to others. When Peter’s mother-in-law was healed, she got up and started serving them. God wants you active, strong, useful. You can’t go into all the world and preach the gospel if you’re bedridden. Healing isn’t just for your comfort. It’s for your calling.
Second Corinthians 4:11 says, “The life of Jesus is made manifest in our mortal body.” That means healing is part of your testimony. It’s proof that the life of Jesus is flowing through you, not just spiritually, but physically.
Let It Go
So, what do you need to do today? Let it go. That hurt. That offense. That self-condemnation. That bitterness toward someone who wronged you. It’s not worth holding onto.
Confess your sins. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Then receive the healing that’s already been provided.
Jesus wants you free—spirit, soul, and body. And He made a way for you to receive all three.
