Unleashing the Past to Move Forward

Isaiah 43:18-19

 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (NKJV).

Have you ever felt as if you only existed in life and not living life? When one just exists, life tends to pass by you without you realizing it. We often let passed hurt hinder us in life. However, we cannot let pass wounds hinder us from enjoying life!

As we look at the scripture, Isaiah is telling us to not remember the former things, but to know that God is with us and he can heal all wounds.  We must move forward in order to see what God has for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13). In this scripture (Isaiah 43:18-19), I know all too well that God will make a road in the wilderness and a river during your time in the desert.

At an early age, many “counted me out” because I was born out of wedlock and my mom did not come from a wealthy family.  Many said that I would not graduate from college or have a successful career. Upon graduating from college, my hometown would not even hire me in the local school district as an educator.  However, as I type this devotion, I must share that I am 95% of the way of completing my doctorate. I am a successful educator in the Upstate and have earned numerous accolades during my seventeen years as an Upstate educator.

For years, I would not speak to those people who had hurt me. I would see these people in the local store and not hold a conversation with them.  I would not visit my home church because there were people in my home church who worked for the local school district and were not advocates for me to be hired.  HURT, PAIN, and DISAPPOINMENT these people caused me!  There was so much pain and agony because these were church members and family members that did not help me. Hurt from church members can be the most devastating hurt one can endure.

As I stated in a previous devotion, God has delivered me from the not speaking part. Daily I am unleashing the hurt from those people because God was a river during the desert and is constantly a river during any desert I may encounter.  God is Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, and the list continues.  He is my All in All! Unleash the past hurt and move forward!

As I end this devotion, I reflect on the text in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, 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” (NKJV).

Dear God,

Unleash my past hurt and my past pain so that I can move forward. God let not my heart be troubled. I know that you are my shepherd and you are my rock and fortress. Remove this pain so I can move forward and see Your glory!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Copyrighted 2014 by Edwina D. Perrin. All rights reserved.