Overcoming The Past

I remembered those times where I felt despair. Those times where I felt abandoned. Those times where I felt unsafe. Those times of an unending darkness that caused me to crawl into a shell. I remembered the physical and emotional abuse. I remembered the physical and verbal marks left on me. There were moments where I believed I deserved to be treated that way. I thought it was normal. My childhood held a deep part of me that I never wanted to relive. I grew in anger and resentment. I decided to build up walls around my heart, so no one could ever get the chance to take advantage of me again. I was always in the defensive mode. I was ready to attack anything that came my way. As a child, I did not realize the monster that was being fueled on the inside. People around me tried to offer their help, but I would shut down. I did not want help. You see, I was born and raised in the church. I heard of God. I knew all the children's Bible stories and songs. But the truth was I had no desire to see God for who He really is. However, at 11 years old, I encountered God in a new way. Everything I heard where He is a Faithful Father, He is a Wonderful Counselor, He is a Deliverer, and a Strong Tower that we can run to was true. For the first time, I saw there was hope for me. I could not understand how that one act of love He did for me would change me forever. As I’m writing this, my heart is overwhelmed with joy. Reflecting on everything He has brought me out of. That today I can proclaim God saved me from a dark place. God’s goodness towards me is unspeakable. He was patient with me through it all! Now I can say, I am free, healed, and redeemed through Him! That everything I went through built me into the person I am today. This is my story. Those of you reading this, I do not know your past and the difficulties it brought. However, I do know the One who knows the past, present, and future. I know He is the healer of all things. The Bible says, in Isaiah in 43:18-19, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert". The Lord is telling us do not remember how things use to be. Do not remember what happened or how those things left you feeling. God is ready to do a new thing in your life! God is the one in charge of taking what was broken, what failed, what fell apart, and turn it into something beautiful. Where those moments will no longer torment you. I promise you there's a life in Christ where the past looked like it never existed. In 2 Corinthians 2:17, it states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”. This is a promise. That if you are in Christ, you are a new creation. That broken, lost, confused, angry person of the past no longer exists when you have Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood was shed to wash you clean from all your sins, mistakes, and errors. It only took His blood once to give you a new hope and life. Receive today that His blood has made you new, whole, and complete. There’s a new season waiting for you. Go run to the Father who is full of grace. He loves you very much! He is ready to give you a fresh start today! Through Jesus Christ, you can be an overcomer of your past.