The past is past. Simply put, it's already done, and there's nothing we can do to change it. Sadly, many are still kept in bondage to it, being held to it by chains that seem hard to break. I know how this feels because I've had many regrets and things that I really wished I could undo, but the truth is that I couldn't do that even if I wanted to.

Anyway, God doesn't want me to either.

God wants you to live free of your past.

Friends, it's called the "past" because it's neither the "present" nor the "future." However, if we don't face our issues, learn from them, receive God's forgiveness, and choose to move on, the past will always affect our present lives and even determine our future! Let's not accept or allow that to happen.

Your part

Friends, living free of the past is a decision we should all make. God won't make it for us – He has already made up His mind that it's our choice. He has given us free will, the power to decide for ourselves.

In Isaiah 43, the same chapter where God is presented as the Saviour or Redeemer, He commands us, "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" (Isaiah 43:18-19).

We should take heed of this and choose to see the new things He is doing.

God's part

If we do our part, we will begin to see that God has been doing His! This should come as a revelation to you, as it did to me. Consider what the teacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20:

"Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past."

Enjoying God's goodness

Friends, whatever pain, shame and loss you might have sustained, nothing changes the fact that God is good to you and is your Redeemer who can redeem lost time.

You might feel like all that has happened to you has sapped away all the joy that you used to have, but cheer up and stop mourning for the past. God can replace what you used to have with what you haven't experienced before, making your present and future way better than before.