We went through a season where it seemed like all we experienced was setback after setback. It didn’t matter how hard we tried, it didn’t matter what tactic we used, nothing seemed to pan out. It felt like we were trapped, with no way out. And although we have been freed from that place, that season honestly left us damaged in a way. You see, we spent years in disappointment, years in drought. And because we lived in those circumstances for so long, we began to believe that we would never see anything more. Our circumstances began to be the lens that we saw our future through. Instead of living in hope, we began to live in the fear that our past would repeat itself. And even though we’ve seen God move over and over again in this new season that we’re in, our minds are still– at times– stuck in the past.
Have you ever felt like this? Have you felt like regardless of your present, you’re still haunted by your past?
There’s no doubt that you have also been through a lot. You have experienced your own seasons of disappointment…your own drought. You have for sure experienced your share of pain, and I’m almost certain that some of that pain still affects you today. Maybe it’s keeping you from seeing your full potential. Maybe it’s preventing you from ever loving or trusting again. Maybe it’s keeping you from believing God for more. Whatever the situation is, I want you to know that I understand. I understand the effects that the past can have on the future. I understand how hard it can be to move forward in hope, after going through trauma or disappointment. But, I also want you to know that you have a Father that will bless you in spite of all you’ve been through. He has a plan for your future. And nothing can hinder that plan, except you.
Our past only hinders our future if we allow it to.
At times, our past can feel so big, like an insurmountable mountain…there’s no way that we can climb it. But, we must understand that we don’t have to. That mountain is nothing compared to our great God. If we choose to trust in Him…if we make the decision that we will follow Him, no matter what happened in the past, He will give us the grace to move forward into blessing.
As I’m writing to you, I can’t help but think about the Israelites. They were enslaved for generations, but God had a promise for them nevertheless. He had a plan to lead them out of their past, into the amazing future that He had for them, but they got stuck in the middle. Although they were physically free, their past had a grip on them. Even though they saw God work miracle after miracle to rescue them, their past seemed like a mountain too high to climb.
They faced the same dilemma that we face. Would they allow their past to hinder their future? Or would they trust God to give them grace for their future?
If you know the story, you know that most of the Israelites that left Egypt died in the wilderness. They never made it to the promised land. And I think it’s important for us to understand the reason why, because it had nothing to do with their strength. It had nothing to do with their ability. It had nothing to do with whether or not God was with them. But…it had everything to do with their declaration.
God was ready to lead them into the promised land. He told them to scout it out. But, the problem was that they could only see the land through the filter of what they had been through. All they could see was the strength of their enemies, in comparison to the weakness of their past.
Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:2-3 NLT)
This assessment was detrimental to their future. Yes, they had been enslaved for generations. Yes, in Egypt they were weak compared to their masters. But, that was no longer their reality. They were freed by the God of the universe..the God that moved heaven and earth to ensure that they were bound no more. He sent plague after plague in Egypt…He parted the Red Sea…He led them to safety…but all they could see was their past.
What do you do when your past threatens your future?
You make the decision to leave the past in the past. You must choose to trust the God that saved you. You must believe that He who saved you will also give you grace for the thing that He saved you for…His promise.
As I said, most of the Israelites that left Egypt never made it to the promised land. But there were two men that did, and it’s because they chose to believe God, in spite of their past.
Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:6-9 NLT)
Joshua and Caleb’s declaration granted them access into the promised land.
But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. (Numbers 14: 21-24 NLT)
You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 9Numbers 14:30 NLT)
Your declaration matters.
The words that you speak out of your mouth matter. They matter so much that they can and will determine your future. If you want to see the promises of God, you must declare that you will see the promises of God…you must declare the word of God over your life…even if you are still dealing with the pain of your past.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
I have no idea what you’ve been through. I have no idea the challenges that you face because of your past, but I do know that your Father has a plan to use that past for your future…if you will let Him. He wants to lead you out of your bondage, out of your pain and disappointment, out of the negative cycles that you have been living in. He wants to lead you into a place of peace that you’ve never seen before…a place of blessing and joy that you’ve never seen before. And He wants to give you the grace to do it. He’ll give you the grace to be courageous in the face of your past. He’ll give you the grace to declare your promise in the midst of uncertainty. He’ll give you the grace for the future that He has for you. But you must trust Him to do it.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that my past does not determine my future. Regardless of what I’ve been through, you still have a beautiful plan for my life, and today, I am choosing to cling to that plan. I believe that you are already using my past for the good of my future. And I believe that you will enable me to overcome any mountain in my way. I trust that you are sending your grace ahead of me. You are sending grace to strengthen me, grace to encourage me, and grace to enable me. I believe that you are all I need. With you, I can do anything. I love you Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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