
Haunted by the Past
We all have that moment (a decision, a chapter of life, a relationship) we so desperately wish we could go back in time and change. You know, the mistake you’re thinking about right now.
Many are ashamed and haunted by their past. Some even become a shell of their former selves because they’re crippled by their sin.
But this is
not what God wants
for us.
When you belong to Jesus, you are offered a fresh start–the Bible calls this “new morning mercies”–every single day. Christ died so that you could experience
true freedom: from your past, your sin, your flesh, and death itself! Your mistakes don’t have to plague you anymore.
2 Corinthians 5:17 promises, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
If you know Jesus, you are a new creation! The old (all of those mistakes and failures that make you shudder) is
gone. In fact, when Jesus died on the cross,
He took your sin upon Himself (even though He was perfect and without blame), so that you could
become His righteousness.
Now, when God looks at you, He no longer sees the failures or mistakes of your past… He sees
Jesus!
So what?
Here’s the best part: this can change the way we view our failures and shortcomings. We don’t have to live in the past, haunted by our sin. We can actually rejoice in hope, because:
God wastes nothing. Romans 8:28 promises, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” All things work together for your good. This includes your past–even the most shameful parts.
The only being truly able to “forgive and forget” is God Himself! When you receive His forgiveness, He chooses to block out your sin from his memory. God doesn’t think about your mistakes anymore. Why not join him?
It is for freedom you’ve been set free. You weren’t freed from sin to become a captive to shame and fear. You were freed to live in true freedom.
Now what?
If living in freedom from your past sounds a little too good to be true, don’t check out quite yet. Here are some really simple ways to remember that you have a
new identity in Jesus, one unphased by your mistakes and failures.
Memorize Scripture. Pick one verse that stuck out to you from this post (or another Bible verse you love!) and do whatever you have to do to cement it in your mind. The next time memories of the past threaten to steal your joy, you’ll be better equipped to face the lies thanks to your secret weapon: God’s Word!
Seek counseling or discipleship, and open up about the wounds or shame of your past. The Bible encourages us to confess our sins (and our deepest, darkest secrets) to each other… because it’s actually one of the ways God heals us. So find a safe, trusted person, and share the things that have been keeping you up at night–maybe you just need to hear from someone else that it’s okay to move on!
Find community. You can’t battle lies and shame alone. Thankfully, you were never intended to! God designed this awesome structure–called the Church–where you can find solidarity, safety, and support as you embrace being a new creation in Christ.
If you’re not sure where to start,
come say hi to our team here at FCA. We’d love to connect you to our community of people who love Jesus and love each other. Let’s live in
freedom from the past together!
Recent Articles





