Hold Onto God Tightly and the Past Lightly

Do you ever find yourself getting stuck in the past?

Our minds are sometimes like the Delorian Time Machine from Back to the Future. They send us back to the past and leave us stuck there with ruminating thoughts. Our retrospection leads us to idealise the past, relive painful memories, or fear the past repeating itself. We then become stuck in an emotional destination such as regret, shame, guilt, hurt, loss, blame, resentment or nostalgia. Our minds do this in the hope of either changing what has been, or what will be.

Our perspective of the present is grounded in the past; it guides the comparisons we make in the present and influences our actions moving forward. Because we have no means of comparison outside of past experiences, seeing a better future with God and how we get there can be challenging. So, once again we can become stuck in an emotional destination such as fear or anxiety, and struggle to move forward into something new.

The problem is that our perspective of the past rarely equates to reality. Nor does our perspective of ourselves. Additionally, our perspective of the past can be re-written by our experiences in the present. This is why in a court of law; multiple witnesses are called forth to give evidence. It is hoped that by doing so, a perspective of events that is close to reality can be established and a sound judgement rendered.

God doesn’t ask us to determine if our perception of the past is true or false, but rather, if our retrospection is drawing us closer to or further away from God. God’s purpose for retrospection is not to trap us in an emotional destination, but to help us to grow and change and move us forward towards our eternal destination. Retrospection is meant to take us Back to the Future with an improved understanding of God’s values and purpose for us, and the actions required to live these out in our lives.

If our retrospection is helping us to grow in relationship with Christ, to endure and to persevere, to change our behaviours, and help us manage our thoughts and emotions appropriately, then it is worthwhile and workable.

However, if our retrospection traps us in an emotional destination that distract us from our eternal destination, and prevents us from moving forward with Him, then it is neither worthwhile nor workable.

God never wants us to be stuck in the past. He always wants to move us forward into our future with Him.

The next time you notice yourself getting stuck in the past and an emotional destination, remember to hold onto God tightly and the past lightly. As we release our past to Him and hold on to Him tightly, we will begin to see that God has taken care of our past. He has forgiven us and poured out His grace and mercy upon us. He loves us, and has a plan and purpose for us, and is growing and changing us every day as He continues to move us forward towards our eternal destination with Him.

Reflection

What steps can you take to help yourself remain mindful of God and your eternal destination throughout your day?

Prayer

Father God, thank you that you have dealt with my past and are with me now moving me forward towards my eternal destination with you. Help me to stop getting stuck in the past and emotional destinations, and to instead hold on to you as we move forward together into your plans and purposes for my life.

Affirmation

For those who are in Christ Jesus, their eternal destination is secure, and eternity starts now!

Actions

The next time you find yourself getting stuck in the past and an emotional destination, take a moment to come into the presence of God. Close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting at the feet of Jesus. Every time a thought about the past enters your mind, picture yourself writing it down on a piece of paper and handing it to Jesus. As you continue doing this, notice how thoughts about Him and from Him start to enter your mind instead. Hold onto these thoughts and move forward with Him exploring them together.