Hebrews 11: 15, “If they had been thinking of the land that
they had left behind, they would have had the opportunity to return.”
Have you ever wrestled through a major life decision, taken
the next step of faith, and known it has been the right choice? And then weeks
or months, or sometimes even years, later begin to reflect on that decision and
wonder if? Or should I turn back now.
And the answer is no, so you keep going forward. But the
memories tug.
Memories are a joy and a blessing, unless we turn them into
a longing to escape from today. Or become an obstacle when we re-live past pain
and allow its emotional paralysis to infect us now.
And the past’s grip can keep us from new guidance and new
opportunities.
We can let emotions alone rule our decisions. We can get
stuck in the familiar because it somehow feels safe because it is
knowable—controllable. Even the heartaches and disappointments can become a
soft jail.
And the strangers and exiles on this faith journey had no
long-term blueprint.
Whatever the hold on their past once was, whether good or
bad, they broke it to walk towards God’s definition of freedom. Not an easy
walk—maybe even more challenging than they had ever done before.
And they walked with the Lord God, Jehovah. Emmanuel—God with
us.
Psalm of Worship: Psalm 138: 3, 8
“On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my
strength of soul.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast
love, O Lord endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
