Looking Back: Beyond Nostalgia and Regret
We often view the “good old days” through a filtered lens. While reminiscing brings comfort, there is a subtle danger in losing the context of days gone by. When we strip away the struggles of the past to remember only the simple things, we risk longing for a time that wasn’t as perfect as we remember. This can rob us of our present hope, causing us to lose our footing in the here and now.
However, there is a more painful way we revisit the past: the “what if” trap. We often wish we could revisit key moments to fix a mistake or make a different choice, thinking it would lead to greater success or self-worth. This cycle of regret is spiritually exhausting; it suggests that our mistakes are bigger than God’s grace.
Moving Forward: From Paralysis to Purpose
The Bible offers a firm but loving correction for those stuck in the shadows of their past. We see a stark physical manifestation of this in Genesis 19:26, where Lot’s wife was transformed into a pillar of salt. Her tragedy wasn’t just a matter of turning her head; it was a heart-level paralysis. She was emotionally anchored to what she was leaving behind, rendering her unable to step into the deliverance God had provided.
Jesus echoed this necessity for forward momentum in Luke 9:62, warning that “no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” This isn’t a demand for perfection, but a call for focus. To plow effectively, one must look toward the horizon; looking back causes the rows to become crooked and the work to stall.
When we accept our past—scars and all—we allow God to:
Redeem the Failure: He takes the things we are ashamed of and uses them to build empathy and wisdom.
Strengthen the Spirit: Just as a muscle must be strained to grow, our faith is often fortified in the moments we felt most broken.
Prepare for Purpose: By applying what we’ve learned through our mistakes, we become equipped for greater responsibilities. God doesn’t waste a single tear or a single “wrong turn” if we are willing to hand the map back to Him.
Instead of wishing for a different past, let us embrace the one we have, knowing that God is the Master Architect. He is not looking for the version of you that never failed; He is calling the version of you that has been refined by the fire and is ready to walk into the “new thing” He has prepared.
Seeing Ourselves Through the Divine Lens
To move forward, we must shift our perspective and see ourselves through God’s eyes—not as a collection of past mistakes, but as beings created Imago Dei (in His image) and loved unconditionally.
Identity over Infraction: Our identity is found in our Creator, not our conduct.
The Purpose of the Trial: Our failures are rarely empty detours. In the economy of God, nothing is wasted. These moments are often the very “refiner’s fire” intended to burn away debris and leave behind a resilient spirit.
The Alchemy of Faith
As James 1:2-4 reminds us, we are encouraged to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. This perseverance must finish its work so that we may be “mature and complete.”
God does not merely tolerate our history; He redeems it. He uses our scars to qualify us for greater responsibilities in His plan, turning our past “tests” into a future “testimony.” Your history is not a weight to carry, but the training ground for where He is leading you next.
The Present: Contentment in a Modern Wilderness
Living in the “now” is not merely a psychological trick; it is a spiritual discipline. While the enemy uses the past to breed shame and the future to breed anxiety, God meets us exclusively in the current moment. He does not identify Himself as “I Was” or “I Will Be,” but as “I AM.” To be present is to be where God is.
However, in our modern era, the “now” has become a contested territory.
The Digital Thief of Presence
Living in the present has never been more difficult. We have become tethered to devices, driven by a pressing need to document every second rather than inhabit it. This “selfie culture” invites a subtle but dangerous shift: we stop experiencing our lives and start curating them.
When the satisfaction of a moment is replaced by the dopamine hit of “likes,” we drift toward the very pride that led to the fall of our greatest enemy—the desire to put ourselves at the center of the frame.
The Nature of Pride – The Paradox of Beauty
Lucifer was the angel of light, the most beautiful of God’s created angelic hosts, yet pride took hold, it grew and festered, love of self—mixed with pride and envy—this guardian of hosts transformed into a beast filled with every evil desire and was cast out. This internal decay marked the first great irony of existence: that the very light he was designed to carry became the fire that consumed his humility. As his fixation shifted from the Creator to the reflection of his own brilliance, the harmony of the heavens was fractured by a discordant ambition. No longer content to serve at the foot of the throne, he sought to ascend above it, trading his celestial inheritance for a kingdom of shadows. When his rebellion finally shattered against the firmament, he fell not just from a physical height, but from the height of grace itself, proving that even the most radiant spirit can be extinguished when it chooses its own glory over the source of all light.
We must ask ourselves: Can we truly enjoy the sunset if we are only viewing it through a lens to see how it will look on a feed? When we prioritize the display of our lives over the depth of our lives, we sacrifice the holy “now” on the altar of public vanity.
Contentment vs. The Comparison Trap
This self-focus inevitably manifests as a lack of contentment. While it is godly to seek improvement—to pursue education, master a craft, or provide for our families—we must guard against the “covetous heart.” God’s moral boundaries were never meant to restrict our joy; they were designed to protect our peace.
If we enter the race of comparing our “behind-the-scenes” with everyone else’s “highlight reel,” we enter a race we can never win. This distraction of wants versus needs leads us back to a place of total self-absorption.
The Cycle of Never Enough: When we believe happiness is one purchase or one “like” away, we become resentful toward our current circumstances, our loved ones, and eventually toward God Himself.
The Manna Principle: Just as the Israelites could not store manna for the next day, we cannot store up contentment from yesterday’s achievements. It must be found fresh today in the sufficiency of Christ.
The Renewal of the Mind
True peace is not found in the acquisition of more things, bigger homes, or newer automobiles. Those are fleeting shadows that cannot fill a soul made for eternity. Our worth is not a fluctuating currency based on our status or our “reach.”
Why limit ourselves by defining our self-worth in what this world offers, the shallow existence of possessions and status, when we can free our hearts and minds through a focus on the eternal. God provides a life of purpose, fulfillment, and meaning that transcends the empty pursuits of this brief time on earth. This shift in perspective acts as an anchor in a world of shifting sands; while material achievements are subject to the erosion of time and the fickleness of public opinion, an identity rooted in the divine is immutable. When we anchor our value in the eternal, we are no longer exhausted by the relentless “treadmill of more,” where every milestone reached only reveals another mountain to climb. Instead, we find a profound stillness in knowing we are already known and loved. This liberation allows our labor to transform from a desperate grab for validation into a joyful expression of service, turning our brief earthly stay into a meaningful prelude to something far greater.
As Romans 12:2 instructs, we find transformation through the renewal of our minds. This renewal allows us to see that the present moment—no matter how quiet or unglamorous—is enough because God is in it. When we stop trying to “frame” our lives for the world, we finally become free to live them for Him. We move from being performers for a digital audience to being stewards of a divine gift: the gift of today.
Turning Presence into Purpose
Making the most of the “now” requires a shift in our spiritual posture. It is about being fully engaged with the people, tasks, and divine appointments right in front of us.
The “Present” as a Gift: The present is the only space where we can exercise faith, offer love, and make choices. We cannot serve our neighbor in the past, and we cannot worship God in the future. We must walk daily in our faith.
Cultivating Awareness: Expansion of the soul happens when we stop waiting for “the next big thing” and start looking for God in the “small things.” Whether it is a conversation with a friend or a quiet moment of reflection, these are the building blocks of a life well-lived.
A Call to Forward Motion
Leaving the past behind is an act of trust. It is a declaration that you believe God’s plan for your future is greater than your history. You are not a finished product; you are a work in progress, and the “now” is the canvas upon which God is currently painting. As Philippians 3:13-14 beautifully captures, we must “forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead,” pressing on toward the prize.
The Future: Purposeful Vision Over Anxious Control
If the past is a weight and the present is a gift, then the future is a stewardship. Many of us approach the horizon with a spirit of anxiety, attempting to prognosticate our way into security. But as we have learned through the renewal of our minds, the future is not a place of fear, but the destination of God’s unfolding plan.
From Anxiety to Anticipation
Building on the “Manna Principle” of the present, we must realize that God does not give us “grace for tomorrow” today; He gives us the promise of it. Our modern struggle with “selfie culture” and comparison often makes us want to curate our future just as we do our social media feeds—linearly, perfectly, and predictably.
However, biblical “future-mindedness” is different. It is the “strain toward what is ahead” mentioned in Philippians 3:13. This isn’t a frantic race to acquire more; it is a purposeful stride toward a calling.
Spiritual self-discipline helps us stay grounded in trust, knowing that God has a plan and purpose for our lives, and through this we have peace that surpasses our ability to understand. Our path that lies beyond the horizon of our view is prepared by our loving heavenly Father with needs met often before we even know to seek His help. This discipline is not a burden of rules, but a rhythmic “re-tuning” of the soul to a frequency higher than our immediate anxieties. It is the daily practice of surrendering our need for control at the feet of One who sees the beginning from the end. By making space for prayer, reflection, and stillness, we cultivate a “proactive peace”—a spiritual reservoir that remains full even when the world around us feels depleted. This foresight of the Divine ensures that as we step into the unknown of tomorrow, we are not walking into a void, but into a landscape already meticulously provisioned by Grace.
The Trap of Self-Reliance: When we try to control every variable of our future, we return to the center of the frame, displacing God.
The Peace of Sovereignty: Contentment in the now allows us to look at the future and say, “I do not know what the years hold, but I know Who holds the years.”
Built for Greater Responsibilities
Our history—the very “pillars of salt” and “crooked plow lines” we’ve moved past—serves a purpose here. God does not waste the trials of our past; He converts them into the wisdom required for our future. As we move forward, we carry the “perseverance” produced in James 1.
This is the bridge: The testing of yesterday becomes the testimony of tomorrow. We are being prepared for “greater responsibilities in His plan.” This isn’t just about personal success; it’s about being fit for the Kingdom. When we stop looking back and stop comparing our “now” to others, we are finally light enough to run the race set before us.
The Eternal Perspective
Ultimately, looking to the future means looking toward the final renewal. Romans 12:2 reminds us that a renewed mind sees things through an eternal lens.
Goals vs. Growth: It is good to have goals—to seek that promotion or build that home—but these must be held with an open hand.
The Ultimate Contentment: True peace comes from knowing that our ultimate future is secure in Christ. This “blessed hope” anchors us so that even when the path ahead looks uncertain, our feet remain steady.
The Integrated Life
By leaving the past to God’s mercy, the present to His grace, and the future to His providence, we find a life of wholeness. We no longer need to be the center of the frame because we are part of a much larger, more beautiful picture. We move forward not because we have all the answers, but because we are following the One who is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end.
A New Year: The Upward Call
As we enter into a new year, we are not merely turning a calendar page; we are stepping into a fresh territory of grace. This transition offers us a holy pause—a moment to survey the horizon and ensure our compass is still pointed toward True North. To make the most of every opportunity, we must be willing to engage in the brave work of self-examination.
The Great Exchange: From Self-Focus to Neighbor-Focus
Let us begin by asking the tough questions that modern culture often helps us avoid:
The Currency of Time: How are we spending the finite resource of our days? Are we investing in the eternal or merely consuming the temporary?
The Direction of Our Gaze: Are we still focused inward, meticulously curating our own image and status? Or have we begun to look outward, identifying the quiet needs of those around us?
In the coming year, our resolution should be a “holy reversal.” We must strive to be like Christ—the one who existed entirely for the Father and for others. We move from the “selfie”—a life framed by self-interest—to the “neighbor,” a life expanded by selfless love.
Anchored in Grace, Guided by Truth
We do not make these changes through sheer willpower, which often fails by February. Instead, we resolve to let God’s Word be the “lamp unto our feet” (Psalm 119:105). We move forward because we are already loved.
Remember the foundational truth of the Gospel: God loved us before we ever turned a thought toward Him. He sent His Son as the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions, not just to forgive our past, but to liberate our future. Because of the Cross, we are no longer required to dwell in the suffocating shame of our mistakes. We are invited to walk in the “newness of life.”
The Vision of the Horizon
To live a life of impact, we must adopt the discipline of the “fixed gaze.” As Proverbs 4:25 suggests: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
When we stop looking back at what paralyzed us and stop looking sideways at what others are doing, we can finally begin to build. We aren’t just building careers or reputations; we are building a life that reflects the Kingdom. Every act of kindness, every moment of integrity, and every step of faith is a brick in the architecture of the world we are all ultimately longing for: Heaven.
Let this be the year we stop performing and start participating in the “new thing” God is doing. The wilderness is behind us; the Way is before us. Trust in the Lord and live in that blessed faith – the Life Beyond Horizons.
May God truly bless you with clarity and peace in this new year. Whether you are actively seeking a new path, feeling troubled by the weight of a fractured world, or have finally reached that pivotal moment of realization—where the heart whispers that there must be more to life than simply existing—know that this longing is itself a compass. It is an invitation to step out of the shallow waters of the temporary and into the deep purpose for which you were created. As you stand at the threshold of this year, may you find the courage to trade the exhaustion of ‘just getting by’ for the vibrant, eternal life that awaits those who seek Him. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, are you ready to respond? Redemption is only a prayer away – reach out to our team through this link and share what’s on your heart. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments
For those who have placed their faith in Christ, we challenge you to move beyond the safety of belief and into the brilliance of a life fully lived. In a world increasingly shadowed by uncertainty, your faith was never meant to be a hidden treasure, but a city set on a hill. Jesus reminded us that while the harvest is vast and the fields are heavy with need, the workers remain few. Do not let this year be another cycle of quiet observation; instead, step into the purpose for which you were redeemed. Don the armor of spiritual readiness, carrying with you a joy that anchors and a peace that sustains, so that your life becomes a beacon to those lost in the shadows—proving that there is a Light no darkness can ever overcome. If you would like our free ministry cards to help you share that light with those you meet, reach out through this link – I want to share my faith – remember to include a mailing address for shipment.
John Stephen Frey
Director and Senior Editor – Life Beyond Horizons Ministry
Life Beyond Horizons 