Have you ever felt as though nothing was working out for you?
Yeah, me too. Many thoughts and emotions come to mind when I evaluate my decisions over the last decade. And honestly speaking, most of them are not favorable. I fluctuate between remorse and discouragement. Views of “should’ve, would’ve, and could’ve” flood my mind. Most of the time, I think everything would be different and perhaps better if I could only go back in time. Especially with the knowledge I now have concerning the results of every decision I’ve made – good or bad. I don’t believe I’m alone in these thoughts either. I’m sure someone reading this post has thought the very same thing.
So, here’s the thing; if I could go back to correct the decisions I know were not the best, if you could also go back in time to do the same, the truth is we’d make the same decisions as our past selves. This thought can be upsetting; I know. It means that our lives are precisely what they’re meant to be now.
Truthfully speaking, our decisions in the past were based on the knowledge available to us then. I hope this perspective encourages you; to know that whatever reality you’re living in now is the reality you were meant to live. This thought encourages me in those moments when I compare my reality to someone else. In addition, on days when I’m feeling discouraged, God often reminds me that my past is just that – the past! And, as long as there is breath in my body, He can make my future new and yours too. We are not condemned by our past decisions. What good news!
The Bible says in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me… forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
This is one of my favorite verses. We see Paul likening himself to a runner in a race. A perfect example to use for this article. It shows that our destinies in life are not behind us. They’re in front of us!
Just think of what could happen if a runner looks back while running full speed in a race – they risk injury to themselves and others! So likewise, we should not look back when the race of our lives overwhelms us. If we do, we risk damage to ourselves and others, specifically with the injury of regret.
In a race, runners only have moments to make decisions that will affect the results of their entire race. Do you see the comparison? They can only make decisions based on their knowledge at the time. And likewise, you and I – in the decisions we’ve made in the past. However, just as runners can analyze their different races to produce better future results, we can do the same in our lives.
In Deuteronomy 30:15-20 it says, “I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that, I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
Don’t worry about the past. It’s gone. Instead, focus on making better decisions to produce a better, more abundant future. Let’s believe God’s best plan for our lives is ahead of us based on our future choices!
Usually, I would look at someone and say, “whatever!” So, I’m not oblivious that some might also be saying this to me. This can be hard to receive, especially when you watch people who appear to have it all together. But, of course, no one has it all together; if they seem so, I always call BS (be sincere)! I hope you didn’t think I was cursing in the faith section of this blog. Shame on you!
Everyone we meet is fighting a battle the outside world knows nothing about. For me, it’s mental health, my fears of being a sufficient enough wife to my husband and a good enough mother to my children, and finally, my doubts on whether I can genuinely manifest my dreams into reality. Only you know what you’re struggling with. So have a discussion with the Lord, and I bet you’ll learn that it was all a part of His divine plan. y
So, suppose you’ve been thinking about your life in the past, possibly pre-pandemic, and how amazing it was. In that case, the first truth is it probably wasn’t even as outstanding as you remember. If you’ve been thinking about how your past choices have affected your present – STOP IT! Be reminded of Paul and fashion yourself as a runner in a race. Look forward!
Regardless of where runners finish, they do not dwell on their past. Instead, they focus on what’s in front of them. So just like me, I ask you what strategies you will implement to make your goals a reality. Know that whatever desires you have before God – spiritually, mentally, physically, financially, and relationally – are still possible if it’s aligned with His divine plan. I guess the question is, have you taken the time to learn God’s plan for your life? If not, let’s do it together!
I admonish you to take a moment to meditate on what your strategy will look like from this point forward. First, let’s learn God’s divine plans for our lives. For some, this might mean reading the Bible more, praying more, and being a better steward of the things God has already given us. For others, it might mean pushing past fears, insecurities, and doubts to do what God has already told them. Regardless of what strategy God speaks to you, get to work! This blog is my first execution of pushing past my fears, doubts, and insecurities to do what God told me. I can’t wait to see the product of what He speaks to you!
C.S. Lewis says, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
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