As we journey through life, it’s easy to look back on our past and see it as a series of mistakes and regrets. We may be tempted to dwell on our failures and shortcomings, to believe that we’ve missed out on opportunities and that our past has been nothing but a waste. However, the Bible reminds us that our past is not a mistake, but rather a part of our unique journey and purpose that we must learn from and embrace.
It’s easy to see those periods in a negative light, however, it is those very seasons of our lives that make us who we are. It is those seasons, mistakes and all, that have molded us into the person we have become today. In a way, it was the preparation that brought us to the place we are today.
Embracing Your Past
One verse that speaks to this idea is Romans 8:28, which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
It is interesting to realize that God will work all things together for the good of those who have been called. It doesn’t say He works things together for the good of those who have answered the call.
There may be seasons where we find ourselves running from the will of God. We choose to go our own ways and do our things. We think we are living our lives for our own purposes, however, God’s call on our life is without repentance, and He is able and willing to weave our disobedience into the map He has designed for our lives to make preparation for our return to His purpose and plan.
It is easy to look at the past and place blame on our mistakes and poor choices. It is easy to look back and think how much different my life would be today if I had done things differently.
I am not saying that you don’t have a choice in how our lives play out. The fact that God gave us free will is absolutely a part of the equation, however, we must realize that God was never caught off guard by our wrong choices. He wasn’t surprised by our mistakes. He was already planning the roadmap of our life to utilize every bump, twist, mountain, and valley to bring us to the exact point He desires.
He Knows You
Psalm 139:13-16, says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
This passage reminds us that God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives, and that includes our past. Even before we were born, God knew every detail of our lives, including the mistakes and struggles we would face. He can use even the difficult parts of our past to shape us into who he created us to be.
Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey with Jesus today, remember, your past is not a mistake, but rather a part of your unique journey and purpose. We can trust that God is working all things together for our good, that he has a specific plan and purpose for our lives, and that He is using our past to move us into the future he has for us. Let us embrace our past, learn from it, and use it to grow and become the person God created us to be.
