Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 13-14
New starts are always refreshing. It gives us hope and a second chance to do things right. Though the year 2016 has already started, things from the past still sometimes hold us from moving forward. Time keeps rolling, but our minds get stuck and keep us from living the present.
I tend to be a perfectionist in everything that I do. When things don’t come out right or the way I expected, I get frustrated and I usually take a long time to forgive myself. I drown myself in endless regrets while I question why I couldn’t do better.
I know I'm a little dramatic, but I am not writing this to draw attention to myself. I write because I know that I am not the only one struggling to get over my past mistakes.
2015 was a great year with its highs and lows. I learned a lot of things that I will treasure and take with me forever. It was a crazy year, yet also a quiet one. I stood firm on my convictions and did a lot of things right, but also made a few decisions that were not wise and that caused me regrets later. New Year’s Eve was a very difficult day - I got very sick and couldn’t get out of my bed. I'm an emotional person, and there were memories passing through my mind in which I desperately wished I had done things differently. I didn’t feel like celebrating with my family and friends that came over for dinner. I just longed for the moment when I could be freed from all those burdens in my own mind.
I gave up for a moment, but my mom came to my bed and instantly she knew what was going on. She not only comforted me, but also encouraged me to do the opposite of what I felt like doing—to get up and get ready to celebrate! Again, she reminded me that my past mistakes do not define who I am today and that one’s mistakes are just an opportunity to grow wiser and do the right thing next time. It was my decision to either let them drag me down or to get up from the ground and not only learn from them, but also to take them as an opportunity to warn others when they come for help or advice.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” is going to be this year’s motto. With this said, I encourage you to not let your past mistakes to keep you from living life as God intended you to! Don’t miss out on the great adventure He has for you by holding on to things that He has already forgiven.
Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
Micah 7:18
