Look Back to Move Forward

There are many times in our lives where we just want to say, “the past is past” or “no looking back now”. Fortunately, there’s also the saying of “those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” If we look to the Scriptures, time and time again we are told to remember the past and remember the things God did and spoke. When we take a moment to reflect on our past (even though some memories bring shame and sorrow), it gives us time to see how God worked and moved in our lives, growing us, and changing us for good. Our little family was continuously looking back on the moments God had orchestrated in our lives as we struggled to reach a foreign country amid a pandemic. Those moments we looked back gave us strength to move forward despite the odds against us. The end of this month marks a year we have been in France, so we’re taking the time to remember his unending grace in our first and very challenging year. God wants us to remember so we can have confidence in the uncertainty of what’s next. So often in the New Testament letters the church was told to remember because they would easily forget. We encourage you to stay in God’s word, pray, and write down what he does in your life because too often we forget those past mercies and become discouraged when that next challenge confronts us. Let’s take heed from what David said in Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”