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Regrets and Resentment
by PamFord Davis The day-by-day experiences of a cross-country truck driver are routine, yet never boring. With my husband behind the wheel, I rode in the passenger seat for several years. Confident and driving toward his assigned destination, he said that at times he almost forgot he was hauling a 53' trailer behind him. It is often difficult to leave painful experiences of our past behind us. Typical are feelings of regret for our failures and resentment towards those who have hurt us. A careful examination of Bible characters reveals ways to overcome the past and the way to go forward in victory. Day-by-day, they trusted God with their past, present and the future. Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit and later sold him into slavery. Falsely accused of sexually assaulting the wife of his master, he ended up in prison. No blame games for Joseph; he trusted God and later pronounced forgiveness unto his brothers. King David took another man's wife to satisfy his lust. In an attempt to cover his tracks, he had her husband placed at the battlefront, causing his demise. When a prophet confronted him of his fault, he confessed his sin; he then asked his LORD for forgiveness and found restoration. Then there was Saul of Tarsus He persecuted the followers of Jesus and gave consent for the death of Stephen. God showered him with mercy and appointed him as Apostle to the Gentiles. How could he live with his past? "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14 KJV)." God's children can forget painful things from the past, leaving them behind. Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php? Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |