Let’s face it. Even as followers of Christ, we have had to face some tough times. Times when we were abused, abandoned, betrayed, treated unfairly, or suffered loss.
Often, we look back on those times, and they become a filter through which we see the present. We see ourselves as weak, victims, or crippled in some way as we try to move forward in life. It can often be debilitating as it continues to become part of our identity.
Let me ask this—did you survive? What character qualities did you develop that carried you through? Did you become a fighter, a peacemaker, a negotiator, someone who hides, or someone who leans on the Lord? While the incident has stayed with you, so have the character qualities you used to survive.
Being a Christ-follower allows us to filter those survival qualities and allows them to be tempered, transformed, or empowered through God’s love and mercy.
Take Saul, for example. To survive or thrive in his life, he became a strong advocate. But unfortunately, his character quality was directed against Christ’s followers. Through one encounter with the True God, Paul’s strength was transformed into that of a crusader for Christ.
Paul could have easily allowed the memories of his past mistakes to debilitate what God did for him. Instead, he chose to leave that behind and boldly move forward in his new identity. It was his choice.
You and I have been offered that very same choice. Are we going to allow the negatives of our past to own real estate in our brains—becoming the filter through which we see life—or are we going to allow God to give us a new perspective? Are we going to allow the character traits we developed to survive to be transformed by God into the new identity that can propel us into His plans and purpose for us?
Isaiah 61:1 says that Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, but part of that is our job—allowing Him to do so.
Jeremiah 29:11 says that His plans for us are good, not evil, and to give us a hope and a future. But part of that is also our job. We must believe it and cooperate as we allow God the time to work these things out in His way and in His timing. (His part—our part.)
God wants to change our perspective on the negatives of our past, heal us, and empower us to transform those survival character strengths into productive tools for His Kingdom and our good. We can begin this process by asking for His help. Pray with me:
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have allowed the negative things of my past to become filters, limiting the way I see my present and my future. Forgive me, Lord. I receive Your forgiveness, and I want to change my perspective. I want to begin to see things through Your eyes. I want to come into agreement with Your power to transform and see my past challenges as stepping stones into the good plans and purposes You have for my future. I give You my frustrations, hurts, self-imposed limitations, and regrets. I embrace Your power to work all things together for good. Thank You for Your unending patience with me. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”
