None
of us are free from heartaches, disappointments, or regrets. Some of them are
our doing, some not. But, if you are
born again, new in Christ, you do not have to let your past define you.
“….. 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
Oh that we could embrace that attitude. Well, actually we can, but not by willing
it. It is a product of a deep and
abiding relationship with Christ. I was
speaking with our daughter-in-law the other day about the nature of
heartache. If you were to break a bone,
it would be painful of course, but the pain would eventually subside. You can remember the event. You can remember that you broke that
particular bone. It might even remind
you when a storm is approaching. But one
thing you cannot do is feel the sharp, stabbing pain that you felt when the
bone was broken. You know it hurt, but
you cannot conjure up the same feeling that you had in the past.
Not so with a broken heart. It only takes a word or a thought to bring
back the pain of the moment when your heart was broken. It feels like a great weight had been placed
upon you. You feel like you are being
crushed under its weight.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears
them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted and saves those who are
crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:17-28
What
a promise. He delivers us out of all of
our troubles. He gives us strength. He gives us comfort. He gives us hope. He gives us life. You have so much to look forward to in the
days ahead. Don’t let the pain of the
past define you. Instead let the Lord
renew you. You may never forget, you may
still regret, but you can take confidence
in this, you are forgiven.
“but
those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint.” - Isaiah 40:31
Embrace
who you are in Christ.
“I
am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to
be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the
grace of God I am what I am.” - John
Newton
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