Joanna Chinen’s story is about surrender, transformation, and faith across generations—how walking humbly with God and letting go of control opened her life to healing, blessing, and freedom from the past.

Let Go, Let God: A Journey of Humility, Healing, and Faith

When Joanna Chinen was just thirteen, she made a life-altering decision—one that many don’t reach until much later in life. At a Christian camp, she felt convicted by the realization that her life had been centered around seeking approval from others—trying to meet the world’s expectations rather than God’s. In that moment, she chose humility over pride and surrender over striving. She turned her focus from the world’s applause to God’s quiet guidance. It was a turning point that began to shape every part of her life.

Over time, Joanna came to understand another deep truth: what passes from generation to generation isn’t just blessing—it can be brokenness too. The patterns of resentment, fear, or unforgiveness that go unaddressed in one generation can silently continue in the next. For Joanna, this awareness led to a conscious choice—to break the cycle. She became intentional about not allowing bitterness or offense to take root, no matter how deeply words or actions might sting. Instead, she chose healing, grace, and forgiveness as her inheritance for her children.

That same spirit of surrender—of letting go and letting God—has marked every chapter of her story since. When Joanna and her husband Micah opened their hearts to God’s timing rather than their own, they were blessed with their third child, William, whose life has brought joy and completeness to their family. Later, a seemingly small decision to go on a “shopping fast” as an act of faith unexpectedly became part of a larger story—one that led them to purchasing their first home. Each step of trust became another marker of God’s faithfulness.

For Joanna, faith has never been about perfection—it’s been about posture. The willingness to be molded, to release control, and to walk humbly before God. Her story mirrors that of her biblical namesake, Joanna, who followed Jesus faithfully and was among the first to witness His resurrection. Both women model what it means to live a life transformed by surrender—faithful, generous, and steadfast in devotion.
Joanna’s journey reminds us that true transformation begins not in achievement, but in humility. When we stop clinging to what we think we need and instead open our hands to what God desires for us, He replaces striving with peace, fear with freedom, and self-centeredness with purpose. To walk humbly with God is not just a single choice—it’s a way of life that changes everything.