The winter weather finally gave way this week. We've had some sixty-degree weather arrive in our part of the country, and it makes me want to lay outside in the sun's rays and soak up the happiness. It feels so wonderful.
Right now, we've moved partially to our place in the city. I spend the week in the city and the weekends at home in the country. I like the mix of locations, but eventually I'll have to make the move from one to the other.
When you leave the last home you were married in, it feels like another step in finalizing your divorce. We've been divorced for over a year now and separated for four years. But, leaving the last place you were together brings up a lot of emotions and if I'm honest, I feel triggered.
I know God is calling me to simplify my life. He wants me to move forward. He always wants us to move forward. But, sometimes I struggle so much with looking backwards. It reminds me of Lot's wife in the Bible. As God was destroying the city behind her, she was told not to look back. When she disobeyed God and looked back, she turned to a pillar of salt.
Did you know there's actually a pillar of salt named Lot's Wife near the Dead Sea? I digress.
God is always moving ahead, wanting us to leave our past behind and follow Him. There's nothing wrong with me feeling nostalgic about selling my home, but I am not meant to stay here and relive the past over and over. God always has something new in store, He's not big on rehashing the past. I guess I shouldn't be either.
I don't want to be as useless as a pillar of salt because I'm always looking backwards. That would make me, uh, salty.
I want to move ahead into whatever God has in store for me. Isn't it crazy how difficult it is to let go of the past? Even if the past isn't good, we still hold onto it for dear life, as if it still has something to offer us. But, here's the news flash. It doesn't have anything else for us. That's why it is the past and not the present.
Isaiah 43:18-19 The LORD says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.
The Bible takes it one step further from simply moving forward from the past. It actually says we are to forget about it and not think about it. Can you imagine what life would be like if you never thought about your mistakes from the past? That thing you cringe about from your past? You actually don't need to think about it anymore. You don't need to shame yourself. You don't need to hate yourself. You don't need to wish it away. The Bible actually says forget about it. (in an Italian accent.)
God is so amazing, isn't He? He goes to great lengths to separate us from our past mistakes. His Word reminds us over and over that we are worth so much more to Him than our sin. He could shame us and He could punish us. But, He says look at the new thing I'm going to do for you. He died so that we can forget about our past. I don't think any of us can fully comprehend the sacrifice He made to allow us to move forward and be with Him in heaven.
So, if you're feeling stuck in a place that is holding you back from where God is leading you, remember how important it is to move forward. Letting go is hard, but staying in a place not meant for you anymore is harder.
Keep going.
Add your comment