The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
I was speaking with a friend of mine and we were discussing how we as people get hung up on things that have happened in the past.
It may be a the loss of a loved one, a physical or mental trauma, betrayal, missed opportunity or any number of things. People don’t like to admit that they do this, but we do.
Anyway, he told me he was hung up on something and a coworker of his told him to “turn the pageâ€. What they meant was that it is time to move on and go forward. In other words: quit living in the past. What has happened in the past is in the past.
We are told in Isaiah 43: 18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"
I often speak of confessing your sins and repentance. Part of that is acknowledging your sins and then turning from them. That means you are to do a new thing. As my friend’s coworker said, “turn the page.â€
Move on from the past, learn from it. Forgive those who have hurt you or wronged you. That does not mean you have to go on vacation with them.
Don’t let your life be consumed by anger, guilt, hate and the whole gambit of negativity that destroys our happiness. God wants you to be happy. Jesus did not suffer so we would be miserable.
Ephesians 4:22-24 22 says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Fortunately God will help us “turn the pageâ€. He will help us write what is on the new page if we allow him to do so. Are you ready to go to him and let him help you to “turn the page"?
Rev. Shane Wallace is pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
