My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.
- the movie Forest Gump
Psalms 23:3 “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Everyone makes resolutions this time of year. Basically to be a whole new person. The standards we set are so high, we are bound to fail. But it’s a fun conversation started, especially when you are meeting new people or when you come back to school. I usually make the typical girl resolutions, do things on my “There is no way i would ever do that list”, spend less money on shoes, and lose weight to fit into the skinny pants I haven’t worn since JH. This year, January 1st was approaching quickly and I didn’t want to make any resolutions, mostly because enough change had taken place for the whole year to come. I was given a second chance at the end of the summer. Now normally when someone starts out one of these “near-death”, sob stories, it usually ends with an eye-opening, life-changing experience. I couldn’t have a normal “near-death” experience. My second chance, a new change was a hard choice.
In the middle of august, I was at the lake with the leaders from our youth group. Long story short, I was hit in the back with an airborne jet ski. I was knocked out. They thought I was dead laying face down in the water. Then I woke up. I have no idea why God choose to let me wake up, still learning the answer to that one. I came away with no permanent injuries, and I walked away from the hospital 5 hours later. Normal near-death experience consist of telling everyone you know how much you love them, you understand your life better, and you have perfect vision of what you are on earth for. I didn’t have any of that. I laid on the couch for 2 weeks, unable to go to work, see friends, and live life. I sunk into depression. I hated every minute of my injury, because it stopped me from living.
When I came home from the hospital, I had a choice. Just like each one of you have a choice in your life to start over. Whether it be through a situation in your life you didn’t count on or simply a new year’s resolution, you are at a cross-road and its your choice which way you go.
When you have things in your past that constantly haunt you and you can’t escape, like my constant back pain that reminded me of what happened, you have a choice to be miserable with it, or move past it. Starting over requires learning from your past but not letting your past dictate your future. I finally decided to not let my injury stop me from living, but I still had to work-out, stretch, not go running for a long time or lift heavy things. My injury affected my future, but it didn’t dictate it.
This beautiful truth is shown in one of the most popular scriptures in the world. Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul (healing), he guides me in the paths of righteousness (guidance) for His name’s sake (purpose).”
When something happens in your life and you are forced to make a decision to “start over”, you can rest (like in verses 1-2) assured that God will heal your past (He restores your soul). It says that he removes your sin as far as the east is from the west. Your past no longer has control. Then He guides you on the right path. He shows you the right exercises and stretches to make you strong again. He leads you on the right path. Why does all of this happen??!? “for His name’s sake.” He gives you purpose: to live for His name.
One of my favorite songs says this:
Cause you can’t change what you’ve done
But you can choose who you’ll become
Every moment is a second chance.
Today is your choice what you do with the crossroad in front of you. Start over today because His mercies are new every morning. (Lam 3)
