I have a friend who is stuck in the past. She dwells over past hurts and injustices and patterns her daily choices based on things that happened to her decades ago. A lot of this behavior is unconscious. I was with her many years ago as she was just about to sabotage a wonderful relationship with a very worthy man. I called her out on it and after a lot of probing and honest reflection, she realized that she would get to a point in a relationship where she broke things off in anticipation of the fellow ending the relationship first. It had happened to her so many times before, so she did it naturally, defensively, and reflexively. She lived in fear of “getting dumped” so she did the dumping. She was able to push through that fear and I am happy to say that they are still together. Once she realized that she was dwelling on her past, she was able to move through it.
Do you ever dwell on your past to the point that it controls your present and prevents any forward motion into your future? I think a lot of us do. When that happens, we completely shut the door to any activity of God that might make things better and right. But God desires to make things new in our lives … if we have the courage to let him.
Isaiah 43 (New International Version)
This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
I admire how Isaiah establishes God’s credentials before he gives the startling prophecy that everything is about to change. He reminds the people of God’s saving activity in delivering the Hebrews from Pharaoh through the Red Sea. Then he shifts the reader’s attention to what is to come:
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
This language is so beautiful. Isaiah’s words came to fruition with the advent of the messiah. When Christ was born, these words came true. But think about how they might apply to any situation you are going through where you are stuck in the past. God is ready to help you get unstuck.
Do you trust him? You don’t need to wander in your wilderness anymore. God always makes a way.
At Water’s Edge 