2019: it’s a bright, shiny new year. The first page in a whole new chapter of life. Time for afresh start. It’s the perfect time to turn over a new leaf, get into shape, eat healthy and live a better life.
I have been reflecting on the past year for the last few days. I’m one of those people who tends to get stuck a bit in regrets. Don’t get me wrong – it’s good to remember the things you did wrong or that you wish you hadn’t done, in hopes that you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future. But for me, all too often, those regrets become giant obstacles in the path forward. Sometimes, it seems like every step I take forward, I stub my toe on another negative memory from the past and my progress is halted. It stings to remember the stupid things I said or did. And then, I play it over and over again in my mind – and I’m stuck.
It can be little things - saying things that don’t need to be said or fudging on your time card – or big things – like an affair, an addiction or an abortion that can get us stuck in the rut of self-condemnation and self-hatred. That rut is a place where no growth takes place. It can be a lonely place of isolation and secrecy. It is also the perfect place for the enemy of our souls to wreak havoc in our lives. Remember this from 1 Peter5:8 – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Have you ever heard him whisper lies to you about what a mess you’ve made of things and how you can never be any different? Or maybe you feel like a fake or a giant failure and work yourself into a frenzy trying to hide that from others. Satan is alive and well, looking to devour you by any means he can.
God, on the other hand, offers sweet hope and renewal in His Word. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, we read:
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
This is good news! But, there’s even more:
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25
I will never tire of turning to these verses to remind myself of how good God is and how much He loves me – despite the mess I am so often. He remembers my sin, your sin, no more. We do remember the things that we have done and we still have to live out the natural consequences– but those sins do not disqualify us from a place in the Kingdom. We have been adopted into His family (Ephesians 1:5) and when we belong to Him, no one can ever snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28-30)!
I pray as you walk through 2019 and make mistakes along the way, that you will hold tight to the Word of Truth…to the One who can get you unstuck from regrets, shame and failures. Be blessed and share this Good News with all.
Until next time –
Kay
