Letting Your Faith Not 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

None of us are free from heartaches, disappointments, or regrets. Some of them are the result of our doing, some not.  If you are born again, new in Christ, you do not have to let your past define you. Oh that we could embrace that truth.  Well … actually … we can, but not by merely willing or wishing it.  Putting our past and its dominance in how we relate to others is a product of a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.  I was speaking with someone 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 or a wounded spirit.  It only takes a word or a thought to bring back the pain of the moment when your heart was broken. 

 “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.  My friend, 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. 

“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

Are you thinking that putting those broken things behind is impossible? You have tried and failed? It will only be accomplished by faith – not human determination. This is what Jesus had to say about it.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

I don’t know who needed to hear this today – but I am confident the Spirit prompted me to write it as an encouragement to someone – perhaps for you.