Face It

Simba: I know what I have to do. But going back will mean facing my past. I've been running from it for so long.
[Rafiki hits Simba on the head with his stick]
Simba: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.
Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.
[swings his stick at Simba again who ducks out of the way]
Rafiki: Ha. You See? So what are you going to do? 

(Taken from The Lion King, Disney, 1994)

So many of us have pasts we wish we could forget. This could be an entire lifetime of regrets, or simply bits and pieces. Our pain may have been self inflicted, or perhaps, caused by someone else. Addictions, abuse, hurtful words, silence, anger...these are just a few of the reasons people regret and fear their pasts. But why? Really, why do we force ourselves to continue reliving terrible, hurtful experiences instead of giving them to God? By holding on to those moments, we are holding back on our full potential relationship with God.

Forgiveness is difficult. Very difficult. But it is healthy, and it is necessary. Whether that means forgiving yourself for whatever you aren’t willing to let go of from your past, or forgiving that person who so badly hurt you.

Give it to God. When you do that, you are not only strengthening your relationship with God, but you are allowing yourself to move forward in life. It is good to acknowledge the things we need to improve on in life. I encourage all of us to try and learn from our mistakes when beginning each new day. That being said...don’t hold on to them. Allow the past to be just that-the past.

Here’s something some of you may not be ready for:

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; God forgives you.

Need to hear that one more time? Here it comes. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; God forgives you.  Honestly. Otherwise, what was the point of this Jesus guy? He didn't come to earth to be crucified, die, and rise again for the fun of it.  No, he did it for us...so that we could be forgiven. So that we could be given a constant fresh start.

Of course, we want to try and fix our errors. We want to live right and do right by God.  But even if we make the same mistake 200,000 times, God will forgive us. 

Take some time and talk to God. Yes, right now. Put down this paper or turn off your computer and have a chat with God. Face your past. Tell God all of your regrets...even if it hurts.  Allow God to take them from you. I PROMISE God can handle them...and WANTS to handle them. And you are going to feel like a whole new person when you truly allow that to happen. I promise that too.

God is good. All the time.