The Joy of the Journey
Forward
Life has a way of locking us into seasons. Sometimes, it is the comfort of a good season that makes us reluctant to leave. More often, it is the weight of past mistakes, unexpected hurts, or the paralyzing fear of the unknown that keeps us stuck. Yet, the Christian journey is fundamentally a walk of movement. God rarely calls His people to stay stagnant; He calls us to move forward. Moving forward does not mean erasing our history, but it does mean changing our focus. It requires a deliberate choice to shift our gaze from what was to what lies ahead.
The greatest obstacle to moving forward is often the rearview mirror. We replay old failures, nurse old grievances, or long for “the good old days.” The Apostle Paul understood the danger of this mindset. Despite a past filled with things he could have regretted or boasted about, he wrote: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
Paul uses the intense imagery of a runner. A runner cannot sprint effectively while looking over their shoulder; doing so slows them down or causes them to trip. To “forget” in this biblical context does not mean experiencing amnesia. It means choosing to no longer let the past power your present. Whether your yesterday was defined by a devastating setback or a monumental success, it is over. God’s grace is ready for your next step. Leave it in the rearview mirror and look ahead.
When we are stuck in a rut, it is easy to become blind to the opportunities around us. We assume that because a door closed or a season ended, our story has hit a dead end. But God is a creator who specializes in renewal. In the Old Testament, God spoke to a displaced, weary nation of people with words that still ring true for us today: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Notice the question: “Do you not perceive it?” God is often working in our lives long before we see the final result. Moving forward requires spiritual perception. It asks us to trust that even in our dry, wilderness moments, God is actively cutting a path forward and providing rivers of sustenance.
Choosing to move forward is a daily decision. The initial burst of inspiration can fade when the terrain gets steep. That is why the writer of Hebrews reminds us that moving forward in faith is a marathon, not a sprint. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2
To move forward effectively, we have to travel light. We must intentionally lay aside the “weights” of unhealthy habits, toxic mindsets, anxiety, and hidden sins that drag us down. Most importantly, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the one who started this journey in us, and He is the one faithful to finish it. Jesus is cheering us on to the finish line along with all those who have gone before us.
We can’t be afraid to take the next step. Moving forward does not require you to have the next ten years mapped out. Faith only requires enough light for the very next step. If you are feeling stagnant, look up, drop the heavy baggage of yesterday, and trust that the Creator of the universe is already making a way for you in the wilderness. Step forward today. Step into love, forgiveness, Mercy, grace, and purpose.
