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Letting Go of the Past


It is understandable that events in our past can be regretful, haunting and possibly crippling in our ability to move forward and make progress in a healthy and positive direction. In a proper healing environment, we can make strides in deepening our coping skills that make each day better than the one before.

Despite the depth of grief, regret, frustration, disappointment and even self-blame over our past, we have to come to the realization that it is most healthy to move forward. I am, in no way, suggesting that we refuse to deal with the past, deny it or go on pretending that it never happened. We can enter each day with a greater perspective because of how we chose to deal with “yesterday” in a healthy, spiritual way.

Isaiah 43:18, tells us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” The literal Hebrew says, “Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past.” It is not saying we refuse to acknowledge what has happened. It is not saying that we put it out of our minds that the things took place. It is not saying to “let it go” and just forget about it ever occurring.

This verse is unique as it applies to God and remembering how He chose to work within our past events. What the verse is literally saying is that regardless of how God chose to work in our past, we cannot put Him into a box and think this is exactly how He “responds” in all situations.

So, in other words, just because God did one thing in particular for a past event, doesn’t mean He will work that same way in your next event. Isaiah is reminding us that God is not bound by human creativity. He is the true Creator of all things and therefore is not bound or limited with having to do the same thing more than once. God can do all things and doesn’t need to do the same thing twice.

God is consistent, trustworthy, and will never contradict Himself. He is the same yesterday, today, and even tomorrow (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8). However, His methods, works, and authority can be shown to us in new and refreshing ways.

What lessons can we take about our past from Isaiah 43:18? For starters:

  1. Don’t expect God to work exactly the same way as He did in a former/past issues.
  2. Just because God worked a particular way for someone else doesn’t mean He will do that exact same thing for you .
  3. Don’t fail to recognize God’s blessings/answers because He chooses to work in a totally different way for your situation than you were praying for.
We can recall all that God has done for us throughout our past to worship, praise, and adore Him for such wonderful blessings. We simply must not put God in a “spiritual straight-jacket” and just assume (or expect) that “based on what God did before” is how He is going to do things again. And THAT is what we “let go” of in our “past.”

We don’t literally forget the past. We “forget”….or, should I say, we “don’t hold God hostage” by expecting Him to work according to the ways He has worked in the past. God will always provide the best for us (Matthew 7:9-11) and part of that is to provide new and refreshing ways in which to show that love.

As we enter into 2020 and put 2019 in our past, we can anticipate new and inviting ways of experiencing how God will choose to work in our lives throughout the coming months. We can still remember all the things that He has done for us before, but we “forget” all that by giving God all the room He needs to work as He so chooses (Romans 8:28). 

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