She gently reprimands her daughter for turning around from the front seat to look back because it's bad luck, but even Birdee herself can't help glancing in the rearview mirror as the house grows smaller in the distance, the shredded curtains in the abandoned windows left behind as evidence of her fury over her husband's infidelity. Unfair circumstances have forced them to leave their old life behind and start over again, and it’s just not easy to let go.
Oh, how I can relate. Change is so scary. One of the most difficult things to do in life is to let go of the past. Even when our current life isn’t all that spectacular, we’re afraid the future will be even worse. This fear can be crippling. And it can hold us back from all the blessing God has in store for us when we are willing to trust Him for a brand new life.
Change is not only frightening, it’s often painful. But it’s also something we can embrace as a God-given opportunity to grow spiritually by leaps and bounds. When my life has fallen apart and my world seems to be ending, what else is there to do but run to the One Who holds me in His hand? He Who has begun a good work in me is more than able to see it through and deliver me. He is more than worthy of my trust.
For the past year I’ve had some scriptures from Isaiah 43 posted on my wall at work. During those difficult days when I’ve struggled not to dwell on my overwhelming circumstances, my eyes once again run across those precious words that always serve to remind me to let the past go and believe that God is doing a new thing in my life.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)I’m not saying it’s always easy to embrace the future. I still struggle with the desire to look back on my past and dwell on the things I’ve lost or the things I regret. But I’m so thankful that my God is gracious enough to allow me to start all over again every time I need to. He never gets tired of me. I’m thankful that I haven’t turned into a thousand pillars of salt by now. Instead, He lifts my head and points my face in the direction of His light. He gives me the strength to keep walking toward my future. And as more time goes by, I find myself wanting to run.
Hope Floats. 20th Century Fox. 1998. DVD.
