We
all will go through periods in our lives when the roads of life may bring us
pain. It’s a road where we’ll receive
hurt, heartache, sadness and disappointments. It may have been during this time
when you felt all alone and wondered to yourself why me? You may have even felt
as if no one understood or no one has experienced what you were going through
at that moment. Also you may have felt
that you could not or would not make it pass the situation because the hurt and
pain was too deep to come out of. But, look at you now! You’re making it! What took place in the past
is in the past, you are here today and you are still standing. (As for me
personally, I'll give my God praise for bringing me out!). (Psalm
34:18(NIV) 18 The Lord is
close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
So
ask yourself this question. How did you
allow the experiences of the past to affect your present? Yes, that period of
roughness did have a huge impact in your life, but what have you done with
those experiences? Did you allow them to "hinder" you? Did you "learn" from them? Did you
"repeat" those mistakes again and again? When you have gone through a
period in your life where it seems like you won't make it and you have no one
to turn to, not sure which way to go or even how to get there, from my own
experience I’ve come to know it's a period you will never forget. So back to my
question, of what did you take from it? I ask this because I’ve seen many go
through and come out with different results. No, I'm not talking about the
results of the situation. I'm speaking
of how the results allowed the situation to affect your present life.
Learn~
When
you have learned from your past experiences, you are able to recognize the
lessons, mistakes and missed opportunities that were before you. When you have
learned from past experiences, you come out of your situation, stronger, wiser,
determined, self-confident, healthier, and with just a little bit more faith. You
recognize several things from those experiences:
1. It was a journey that you’ve overcome and not one
that overcame you.
2. Past mistakes will not dictate and control your
present or future.
3. You’ll take a bad situation and use it for your
good; having enough wisdom and strength to press on and not be defeated by what
you went through.
4. Looking back over your life, instead of being
bitter, you are able to say, "I went through that to get where I am today,
and I'm in a better place because of it.”
Now
I didn't say this erases the memory completely; however, instead of the memory
having control over you, the Lord will give you control over the memory through
Him. As for me, I always say, "Thank you Lord for having the final say, lessons
learned, now time to move forward!”. (Isaiah43:18-19(NIV) 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the
things of old 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs
forth, do you not perceive it? I will
make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Hindrance~
If you’ve allowed your past trials, mistakes, hurts, and disappointments
to hinder you, then you are not in a good place and you need to come out of it!
You are allowing your past to control your present and to dictate your future. I
understand some are saying, “But I’m hurting;”, “he or she hurt me;”, “I can’t
seem to get over it;” “I messed up and made a mistake.” Well join the club of many, my sister or
brother! Although you’ve made mistakes, missed some opportunities or someone
did you wrong and hurt you, are you now going to let that situation or person
have even more control over you? When you allow these things to hinder you from
moving forward, you are basically surrendering complete control of your life
over to it. You can’t move forward and see what greatness awaits you because
you are too busy looking behind you. What happens when you try to walk forward
while looking behind you? You run into mess, miss opportunities and get lost on
your journey. Why would you want a situation or an individual to have that kind
of control over your life, besides God, of course? Right now you could be
missing out on deliverance, healing, blessings, opportunities, or a good man or
woman because you are hindered by what you keep looking at behind you. If you
want to be free from your past, you need to let it go. My saying is, “Let Go
and Let God!” Ask God what is the lesson
He wants you to take from that experience and move forward with eyes fixated on
what’s in front of you so you won’t miss your true destiny. (Matthew 16:23(ESV) 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me,
Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind
on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Forgiveness~
I
was once asked how I could still be kind to people who have hurt and mistreated
me. My answer was and still is, because I forgive them. Some find that difficult to believe, but I’ve
learned that in order for me to heal and move forward in my life I had to
forgive them. I’m not saying this was always easy, but through Christ I am able. Most importantly, I remember that I’m
repenting daily and asking for forgiveness for myself, and if I were seeking
forgiveness, I first had to forgive. Not
being able to forgive is like a disease.
It keeps growing and getting deadly.
This disease will affect every area of your life and not in a good way.
While you are still festering in your inability to forgive, often looking and
hoping for pay back, or trying to make people’s lives miserable, they may have
already gone before the Lord, repented and moved on. You do know that God is a forgiving God. (Psalm
32:1(ESV) 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is
forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Healing~
The
healing process is different for everyone, but the one common thing is that
looking behind will not help. So instead,
allow God to turn your head and place the focus on Him. Christ is the only one who can truly heal you
completely and give you the kind of joy that you will not be able to receive
anywhere else. Give it to Him and let Him heal you completely so you can stop
looking in the rearview mirror. (Psalm 147:3(ESV) 3 He
heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Evangelist Steele
OMG!!! Thank you for this. You are such an encouragement that I literally am excited and always can't wait until the next weekly blog is posted!
ReplyDeleteThank you, God's timing is everything!
ReplyDeleteMy God!!! My God!!! Thank you!
ReplyDelete