Guest Post
Don’t look back to the Past!
How many people try getting over their past? I don’t know if we ever get over it but in Christ we can get through it.Â
Isaiah 43: 18-19 “Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.”Â
I am praying for God to do a new thing in my life, and in yours.
When God determines your future, He does not consult your past. We see this throughout the Word of God:
Look at Mary Magdalene – an outcast But after she came to Christ, she was one of the last people to leave the Cross. (Matthew 27: 55-61)
Look at Peter – a fisherman with an anger problem. But when he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached and thousands came to Christ. (Acts 2: 40-41)
Look at Jacob – his name means deceiver. But God gave him an extreme makeover and changed his name to Israel which means, Overcomer.”
Look at Paul – before Christ he was throwing Christians in jail and even killing the followers of Christ. After Paul came to Christ he was mightily used by God to see people come to salvation.
Don’t be trapped in the past. Don’t look back. May the Lord God change your future!Â
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
On your journey of forgiveness you will get a lot of advice on what you should and should not do. How many have heard the words – “You shouldn’t feel that way.” Or “if you only trusted God more you would not feel that way and want to give up.” Those words sound good, but when you are going through a struggle a test of your faith, they can make you feel worse.
How should we respond when we have these anxious and troubling feelings?
First of all, realize that FEELINGS are neither right nor wrong. Because you have feelings does not make you spiritual or not spiritual. Feelings mean that we are human. Jesus experienced feelings just like we feel.
Mark 14:34 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death
He felt like He was going to die. Life was so hard that he was overwhelmed. Jesus teaches us here that you do not deny your feelings, or condemn yourself because of these feelings. Jesus acknowledged his feelings and emotions. In fact, Jesus prayed twice, “Father…please take this suffering away.” His Father did not rebuke him, or scold him for these feelings.
God will not rebuke us because of the feelings that we have in our lives.
Secondly, We need to understand that our feelings do not have to control the choices that we make! Just because we have feelings does not mean that we have to make ungodly choices! Many times we want to blame our feelings for the choices that we make and that is not true. Jesus had feelings, but what did He do?
 Mark 14:36 Yet I want Your will, not mine.
Today you may have feelings that are difficult but we can make the right choices by faith! When you make right choices, watch what God will do as we walk by faith and not by our feelings!
I wrote a book called Forgiving the Nightmare. In my book I share how I overcame years of horrific abuse and suffering during my childhood and how the Lord lead me to freedom and forgiveness through faith in Christ.
We all have nightmares, that sometimes try to over take us, hold us back, and steal our joy. The Lord has given us a promise and a hope…
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
About the Author
Reverend Mark Sowersby
Mark has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/ Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God’s grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn’t serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.
I hope you enjoyed this post! For more guidance on moving forwards check out Changing Focus- Psalm 4.
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