Every experience counts! Yes, the good and the bad. It teaches us the reality of life – the way to go forward. Our experiences shape us to be where we are now. Some of us might have a bitter past that we wanted to forget and never walk down that specific memory lane.
Life is not a cakewalk; it’s warfare. We have to defeat our strongholds.
No one’s a saint. However, not getting up from the mud is a sin – I don’t think it’s the destiny of anyone. We all get our chances to lay back or get up to move on. Yes, let us say it’s personal! Your personal experience is different no one can fill in your boots. But here I wanted to talk more than that.
Looking back on the bygone years when we were locked in our homes or at a facility by a life-threatening virus. How fragile our body is!
I remember those days when I was young and healthy – it felt like nothing could break me. I ran around in the wild; the gorge, among the thorns, and working with no safety gear. Yet my God keeps me safe. It is fun and wonderful indeed!
Otherwise, past experiences legitimate enough to be added to our CVs or Resume are the ones to be nourished and revised before every interview. ‘What did you do during this period, between your graduation or last job until now?’ you will be asked in a job interview. Oh, I kind of like it now! However, you can’t spill anything unrelated to what you’re looking forward to. I missed those days!
Experiences of the year:
We are nearing the end of this year 2022. What we had experienced during the years will differ physically and emotionally. Some of us may feel drained by the tumultuous clouds surrounding us from time to time. It is life!
In the same way, many people would have a thing or many to talk about their promotion, achievement, and anything that can be added to their CVs. While some of us will be just like me – no progress seen so far but holding onto hope as we try to play our role or at least not to disturb anyone.
I always talk about my suffering, sometimes ranting, but I would like to thank all of you who encourages me and also felt encouraged to carry on through my simple messages based on the scripture. When all the pain you had due to chronic illness doesn’t simply go away, you need someone to talk to. And that person can’t be seen it is God who listens!
Forgotten Past:
Healing life hurts; walking down the road for healing is not easy. Self-forgiving is easier said than done. It is good to clear up things of the past to gain mutual trust in a relationship. A relationship between two parties of intimate emotions should be well preserved. Personally, digging into the past and dwelling in the past robs me of a huge chunk of happiness in the period of my life that I should have enjoyed.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (I am doing a new thing!) Isaiah 43:18
Many of our pasts, which we’re also not proud of, have to be forgotten once we become a new creation in Christ!
The major fault in our mind is that we easily forget what we wanted to keep, but it often took us back to the elements of sorrow and suffering. I hope our past experiences no longer hurt us or the ones we love dearly. Let it be no longer the lingering sparks that hurt our living. So, let us submit our past experiences to the Lord.
I know if I could do this to myself, I’d be happier. Yet I have to face it as the days went by. It always is a learning process for me, which I will transcend to my children so that they might escape the dark areas of life. Dwelling in the past is tormenting, but also gives me an essence of grace and love.
Experience NOT in vain:
I believe none of our experiences are in vain. We are often tempted to give up and change our perspective of life otherwise. However, the Holy Spirit helps us in our faith. All our sufferings are not in vain.
In one of my books, the audacity of wants, my objective is to spread hope or false messages which is to make believe that the moment we accept Christ all our sufferings are no more. They still were, but with him, every suffering is easier. It renewed our faith.
Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians 3:4 uses a very strong word here.
Our experiences because of the gospel were not in vain. The gospel strengthens us to go forward, it propels us to endure the sufferings, pains, and heartbreak in the living hope. As we started well; we should finish it well.
Forgiven Past Experiences:
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalms 103: 10-12
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you, there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Psalms 130: 3-4
It is wise for a man to get over the past. Yet I find it very difficult as my brain often picked up things of the past. “Do not say what are the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions.” Eccl 7:10, Eccl 7:13-14
Our Experiences in life:
I know your pain, grief, and sorrow in losing your loved ones…I’ve been there too. I know the physical pain endured by a chronically ill person; I hate to say it, but that’s me too. We have our own share of heartbreaks; I have a very supportive and caring wife and children. I have no past severe heartbreak. So, I felt privileged in this regard.
In writing this piece in the cold, I want you to feel the love and care of God in healing the dark times we’ve been through as we’re ending this year. I want you to start the coming year with God again by your side. I have faith he will see us through time and again.
As for me, I hope my visit to the doctor would be lesser, even more, no longer required by the grace of God. However, we have unlimited wants. So, I’ll leave it to the Lord. It’s always better that way.
Hugs and love to you!
God Bless you!
Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year 2023 from my family!
