When All Seems LostIhe Nhụchatụ

The courage to move on

Don't try to resurrect what God has killed. Don't try to force-open the door God has shut. It takes courage and strength to move on from past loss and disappointment. It's very difficult to move on from a past reality you aren't willing to accept, and this often delays our healing and the possibility of starting afresh.

For seven days, King David prayed and wept; he lay in sackcloth and refused to eat because his son was ill. He did all he could, but eventually, the child died. There will be times and seasons in our lives when we just have to accept divine providence on certain outcomes, pick ourselves up, and continue with life, no matter how difficult it may be.

David did what I'm encouraging you to do; he picked himself up, took a bath, asked for his food and 'moved on.' If you have done all you could do: prayed, fasted, sought help, and the outcome still didn't go as you hoped or planned, make peace with how things eventually turned out.

Stop trying to resurrect what God has killed. Stop trying to force open doors that God has closed. If it is dead, and God won't raise it, make peace with it and move on. It could be a broken relationship, it could be a job that no longer contributes to or advances your life or a circle of friends who no longer align with your purpose and calling. If it's dead, let it go.

Stop glorifying the past. Stop looking back at the good old days; the best of God is never your past testimony. The best of God is ahead of you, not behind you. So brace yourself for something new. Isaiah 43:19 NIV says, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Learn from the past, but don't live there. If you don't move past yesterday's pain, hurts, and disappointments, you become the victim. In life, challenges and problems are a given, but misery is a choice. Look up my devotional on "Living a Joyful Life. "

Stop expending time, energy, resources, and emotions on what you cannot change. Remember the Serenity Prayer, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference." Believe that everything works out for the good of those who love the Lord! If you can't change the outcome, let it be.

If this devotional has blessed you in any way, I'd love to hear from you. Please share your feedback. My email is info@danielkcole.com