Forward with Faith

Sunlight on forest floor – photo by Jill Rushbrook

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18‭-‬19 NIV

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

How do you leave the past in the past? It is easier said than done for anyone who has experienced a traumatic experience, hurtful heartbreak, or consequences from wrong choices. But God does not want us to live in the past, where there is no life. While many of us get caught in a vicious cycle of rehashing remembrances of yesterday, we also become anxious about our futures. This toxic two ingredient potion of dwelling on days gone by and fearing for the future effectively poisons the present, which is all we truly have in our grasp. After all, we can’t add any more time to our lives by worrying. Matthew 6:34 

Instead, we need to carry out a very different two-pronged approach that both the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul teach us. 1) Leave the past in the past. Isaiah admonishes us to, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” ( Isaiah 43:18‭-‬19) We must resolve to forget the former…the pain, hurts, mistakes, betrayals, harm, and missteps. Yes, process the past, but let it then die. Lessons can be learned but we should not allow the past to steal from the present. Paul then shares in Philippians, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Again we are told to forget what is behind us. To forget doesn’t mean that we can erase memories or magically make the past disappear, but rather, our focus needs to be on the present and the hope of the future. Paul’s past wasn’t the greatest as one of the most notorious persecutors of Christians in his age. But, Paul experienced Christ’s redemptive love and mercy and he was called to then become one of the greatest messengers of the gospel. He knew how important it was to strain toward what is ahead, toward God’s calling and eternal reward. We have to make an effort to fix our eyes forward – with effort – consciously pressing on with purpose! There is so much more for you to do and to be in this life than dwell in the dungeon of your past days!  

And that leads us to the second part of our two- pronged approach.1) Leave the past in the past and 2) Look forward in faith.  Isaiah also shares how our focus should be on the new thing he is doing…the spring in the desert, the way in the wilderness, the good work God is doing in you right now! We can be assured that whatever happened in the past will not be wasted by God. Yes, the past may have been painful and may not have been what you expected to happen in your life, but God will use all of it for your good! “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Where is the way in the wilderness leading? To GOOD things for those who love him. The footsteps that are behind you only lead you to where you are standing now, and you can confidently say that God has a good plan for your steps forward! “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.” Jeremiah 29:11

You have a purpose that is far more valuable than your past. In loving and following Jesus Christ, we know that He will work all things out for good. Focus on the prosperous plan He has for you and put the past out to pasture. Have an excited anticipation about what’s to come instead of anxiety. Leave the lifeless past where it lies, and live looking forward in faith to what good our always-good-God has in store for you!