Can We Really Forget the Past? Should We?

One verse that has been incredibly misunderstood by so many is, “forgetting what lies behind” in Phil. 3:13. Somehow, we get the idea that looking at past issues in order to resolve the internal conflicts raging within us is wrong. Past experiences are, however, deeply relevant both to our present and to our future. Our past experiences have shaped us into who we are today. While we certainly need to remain as “present” as we can and live and in the here and now and look toward the future, it is in learning from the past and finding freedom from what hinders us in our present day lives that we can often glean the very resources that will provide for a future harvest of brand new things. If we are wise, we will allow the lessons from the past to help us grow from what we learn as a result of it.

Let’s look at a passage in Gen. 16, where God meets one of His people in the desert. He asks her some very pointed questions: In verse 8, God asks, “Hagar, servant of Sarai…” God recognized her present circumstances, and acknowledged where she was. “Where have you come from?” He’s interested in her past experiences, and asks, “How did you get here, Hagar? Tell Me what brought you to this place. Yes, God already knew, but God also knew that Hagar needed to know that He knew, and to voice it out loud. She needed to be able to speak the hurts and concerns and difficulties and burdens upon her heart. God knew that because God created her that way – just as He created us that way, and even goes out of His way to provide for that need to be met in His people. God is never distressed about our seeking Godly counsel (Prov. 11:14), He does not become irritated at our asking questions or our need to find some answers, understanding, significance, or relief. In fact, He invites it, asking us again and again to come to Him to seek His face (Isa. 55:3), to ask Him the hard questions (Ps. 2:8), to tell Him about our hurts and confusion (Ps. 61:2), and to come to terms with the things we need to resolve (Isa. 45:19). He wants us to admit to the things that trip us up and cause us pain, that trigger intense feelings, that lead us down the path of despair and leave us reeling with feelings of helplessness and frustration and defeat (Matt.11:28, Jn. 7:37).

Remember that Moses, and David, Elijah, Job, and too many others to list here, dared to ask God the hard questions, and came away with a greater knowledge and understanding of Him that could not have been attained in any other way (Job 42:5). The Lord Jesus Himself is the merciful and compassionate High Priest, the One Who makes intercession for us, the One Who is acquainted with our grief and sorrows and pain (Heb. 2:17,18; Isa. 53:3). We can, then, freely come to Him openly and honestly with our hard questions, knowing that His is a throne of grace, not judgment, and that we have an open invitation to come before Him in this way (Heb. 4:16).

Now for the next question God asked Hagar: “And whither wilt thou go?” So, Hagar, what now? Where to from here? How will you respond to this situation? Which choice will you make? For we certainly do have choices (and that’s the difference between bondage and freedom), no matter how the circumstances may appear at the moment. Which choice will best help us in seeing God’s will and direction and plan for our lives accomplished? Maybe we don’t have all the answers. Maybe we don’t have all the information right now (Okay, so we seldom have either of those things!) but we can certainly seek out the God Who does. Because we know His character, and that He is not only able but willing and wanting to help us to walk in hope and confidence, to rest and peace and joy, we can seek God for these things! We really can expect that there is a remedy for whatever circumstance and situation we find ourselves in; our part is to seek His perspective – perhaps one that we have not seen before (or maybe just forgotten in our distress). God is faithful, and will always make a way, one way or another, because He is God.

Prov. 4:18 says, “But the path of the uncompromisingly just and
righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more –
brighter and clearer – until it reaches its full strength and glory in the
perfect (full light of) day.” (Amp)