Philippians 3:13 (KJV)
13 "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,"


In life, many of us struggle with the weight of our past. We made a lot of mistakes, missed opportunities, and accumulated trauma. We often carry the burden of what happened, letting it define who we are and where we’re headed. But in Philippians 3:13, Paul reminds us of an important truth: we are called to forget what is behind and reach forward to what God has in store for us.

Letting go of the past is a crucial step in walking in the freedom of the gospel. Our identity is not rooted in what we’ve done or what has been done to us, it is rooted in Jesus Christ. The gospel tells us that we are no longer bound by our past because Jesus has already redeemed it. Our mistakes, our pains, and our failures were all nailed to the cross with Christ.

The past may have shaped you, but it doesn’t define you. 

It's not about denying or ignoring what has happened. Instead, it’s about choosing not to be controlled by it. The things that once held us back are no longer valid in Christ. Jesus took the weight of our past and bore it on the cross, freeing us from all bondage. We no longer have to carry the guilt or shame of yesterday because Jesus has already set us free from the beginning. Our past has been washed away in His blood.

The past is a place of lessons, not a place to live. Different L's.

Your past isn't just part of your story, it was actually for His glory. This is the beauty of the gospel. God turns bitter things sweet through His only begotten son, Jesus.

When we hold onto the past, we limit our ability to embrace what God has for us. Reaching forward means stepping into the promises and plans that God has prepared. It’s about believing that your future in Christ is far greater than anything in your past. Whether you’ve experienced deep trauma or made grave mistakes, we must believe that God will use it all for His glory. 

Paul, who once persecuted Christians, had every reason to dwell on his past mistakes, but instead, he chose to press forward. He knew that his identity was not in his past, but in his Savior. If God can transform Paul’s life, He can do the same for you. No past mistake, no trauma, no sin is too big for God’s grace. Your future is secure in Jesus, and nothing from your past can disqualify you from the plans He has for you. 

God’s grace is bigger than your greatest sin.

Your future is filled with hope, not because of what you can do, but because of what Christ has already done.

I hope we can step forward boldly in our new identities and as new creatures. Amen!