Leave Your Past Where it Belongs

For the last two weeks, my daughter, Eden, has been learning how to swim. Her first week she jumped right in and did really well. At one point they had the kids laying face down and encouraged them to blow bubbles into the water. She did it once and then went for a second and started to get scared. She started to cry but finished her first lesson. I was so proud of her and told her how great of a job she had done.

Flash forward to her second lesson. She seemed fine leading up to the lesson and even told me she was excited to go back to the pool. As soon as she placed her little feet in the water she started to cry. Nothing had changed. It was the same pool, the same people, but this time she was allowing the past experience to dictate her current experience. She was unable to get in the water and enjoy another lesson because she had one moment a fear that was now telling her she could not do it.

Fear is a very real emotion we all feel all the time that the enemy uses to convince us of something that is not true. The bible says over 300 times to not fear! There is so much to be said about fear but I wanted to focus on this truth, we cannot allow our past fears to dictate our current reality.

Consider the Israelites who had seen God overcome the Egyptian army with the shutting of the red sea and defeated multiple enemies in the desert along the way. Yet, when they sent 2 spies into the Promised Land, 10 said they could not take the land and responded in fear. They even began to share lies to make the situation seem direr than it was. Only 2, Caleb and Joshua, saw the Promised Land with faith that God was greater.

When we are dealing with a current situation and fear begins to boil up inside of us, we should consider why we are feeling so afraid about it. If it is traced back to a situation in the past, allow the Lord to remind you whatever happened then does not mean that it will happen again. We do need to use common sense and not put ourselves in a dangerous situation and sometimes that is when talking it through with someone you trust is helpful.

Instead of looking into our past and seeing only fear replace it with God's faithfulness. Maybe a fear was I was unable to pray with someone at work but God was faithful to give me an opportunity so I believe He desires to use me. Maybe a fear for you is that you made a mistake with your kids and that they are going to grow up and not be the kids you were hoping for. See God's faithfulness in the grace He has given you and lead your family with a heart of love and forgiveness. Maybe the fear is from someone letting you down. Remember how much God has forgiven you, allow Him to soften your heart, forgive, and try again. Maybe your greatest fear is you think God failed you in the past. Be reminded that  He loves you, is faithful, is good, and is over every situation. 

Behind the fear of our past, God is still working. We do not have to allow what fear we have from the past to tell us how we should act in what God has placed before us today. Today is a new opportunity to walk not in fear but faith. Take a hold of what He has for you and allow Him to redefine your past and present. Spend some time with Him today and allow Him to speak into the specific areas of fear and uncertainty that you have.

Leave your fear where it belongs. In your past.