Don’t Look Back
There’s a story in Genesis 18-19 that tells about the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God sent angels to the two towns to destroy them because of their great wickedness.
Just before destroying the cities, the angels sent Lot, his wife, and two daughters out of the area, telling them to flee to safety and not to look back.
Unfortunately, Lot’s wife does look back and is turned into a pillar of salt. (Genesis 29:16)
Why?
Because she didn’t just look back, she looked back with longing.
Instead of looking to the rescue from destruction God was providing her, she looked back at the old life she was losing with desire to keep it.
She didn’t want to let go of the old life she was leaving behind.
I wonder how many of us have done that?
Maybe we left behind a job we loved, a friendship that was not healthy for us.
Maybe we’ve had to let go of a bad habit/pet sin we enjoyed.
Maybe we’ve had to leave a ministry we enjoyed participating in or a church we valued.
Maybe we’ve even had to let go of a romantic partner.
Whatever it is, God called us away but we are struggling with the loss.
If He’s called us away, He’s calling us to let go, walk away, and move on.
That’s hard!
Letting go of and turning away from something you want so badly, simply because God said no sometimes seems so unfair.
It can be very painful..
The thing is, if God tells us to, we have to.
He’s not doing it to hurt us.
He’s doing it to protect us.
He sees things we don’t.
He is trimming away the dead weight so we’ll be free to move on in the direction He is calling us to – a place they can’t go with us.
This doesn’t mean we don’t still love and care about them or that situation.
It means we put it into perspective and realize seeking the kingdom first means being willing to let everything, and everyone, else go.
There’s a scripture Paul shares that speaks to this…
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
If God has called you to let something go, do it!
Pray, tell Him you want to let it go, ask Him for wisdom.
Offer it as a gift to Him.
Praise Him for showing it to you and for helping you with it.
Do it as many times as it takes to finally let it go.
Thank HIm for your freedom, for His kindness and care.
Thank HIm for showing you the path He would have you to take.
Remember that Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us to trust that as we learn not to dwell on the past, He is doing a new thing and that He is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
He truly can replace that thing with something better, something holier.
Something that brings us true joy and draws us nearer to Him.
Trust Him to do this for you as you let go of the past and move on to what He has planned for you.
It may not be easy, but I can guarantee that if you do, you will feel so much more peace and love as you draw nearer to the Father, discovering the plans He has for you – plans to prosper you and give you hope. .
Is there something you need to leave behind? Will you trust Him with it today?
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)