Seasons

“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t happened yet.”

“And whatever you do, don’t look back!”

That line seems to appear in many movies, books, and TV shows, where the protagonist has to choose whether to move on or to look back at a painful past. Usually, the audience knows immediately that the character shouldn’t be swayed by old emotions and memories, and just needs to move on.

But in our own lives, is it really that easy?

Discerning God’s will can be one of the most challenging things we ever do. I know because it’s just as hard for me as it is for you. And if it’s not hard for you, well, teach me your ways!

Sometimes God is calling us out of an old season of our lives into a new one. A fresh one. A beautiful one.

But then that good ol’ past is calling out our names. “Don’t forget about this desire you had! Don’t forget about that missed opportunity!”

Sometimes we do things in life that we really regret. But it’s important to take all you learned from that choice and leave the rest behind. God is constantly calling us into a deeper relationship with Him, and before we can do that, we have to let go of some old baggage.

Despite how obvious choices are presented in the media, we don’t know the future, the ending, or how other people feel. We just have to go with what we believe is right. The past may seem more alluring to some than others, and it can be hard to do the difficult thing that separates our future from our history.

We fear for the future, clutching at every last moment we can have of it. When I was a child, I feared growing up with all I had in me, trying to stay a kid as long as possible. But when that day came and I realized that there was so much I was missing out on, I was ready to move on. God waits patiently for us to make that decision to move on from what we’ve grown comfortable with. God knows our deepest desires and our painful mistakes. But He is willing to use those things for His bigger purposes, if we follow His call.

This saying will always stick with me, no matter what. I tell myself this when something good or bad happens, because it keeps me hopeful.

The best is yet to come.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9