"Don't Look Back, Part 2"

Don’t Look Back - Part 2

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Last week, we discussed how Satan will use the past to keep up from serving in the present and how some people look back and find they are content with yesterday's success and, therefore, lose motivation to do more in the future. 

While some find contentment in looking back, others find themselves controlled by yesterday’s sufferings.

Job 14:1 tells us, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”

Each of us has faced some type of difficulty or storm. We’ve been hurt by other people, lost loved ones, experienced hardships in the workplace, been through financial loss. It’s easy during these times to develop bitterness and regret. We can get angry at those who hurt us, bitter about the situation itself, and even regret how we handled the storms that we endured. Even when the storm is over, we can dwell on those negative feelings and outcomes. 

But we must realize that God never sent the storm to destroy us, but that we might mature in our faith and learn to lean on Him more. It has often been said that, “faith is like film; it’s developed in the dark.” Even though it may seem dark in the midst of the storm, there is always good that can come from it if we keep our focus on God and allow Him to guide us through it. 

In Philippians 3:13, Paul admonishes us to “forget those thighs which are behind.” I cannot control what others may say or do; however, I can control how I allow it to affect my attitude and actions. As we enter this New Year, may we not allow last year's hurt and suffering to prevent us from experiencing growth and success in 2025.