Article: Moving Forward: How God’s Grace Frees You From the Past

When you hear the words “RADICAL GRACE” you might think that is a cliché or a marketing ploy to get someone’s attention.

But radical grace from Jesus is real. It is as real and available today as it was when Jesus walked the earth.

Radical grace erases the past, smooths out the present and gives us a path forward into our future.

My guess is that you are still holding on to regrets from your past and in the quiet moments of your life those memories creep up on you. All of a sudden, you are living in the past. A past you cannot change.

Israel collectively had regrets too. They turned from God and it cost them everything. But God didn’t give up on them.

God raised up Isaiah to comfort them and encourage them to not look backwards but forward!

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 am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

God encourages us to do the same… forget about the past. Let go of the pain. Disregard the poor choices you can’t change.

Not only that, but what does God tell us that we do a lot? Do not dwell in the past. The Lord knows us because God created us. God knows our minds often time travel to a moment of regret. It is not good for us, so the Lord says stop doing that. But why?

God lives in the present and he is going to change the story of your life… even if you don’t perceive it. That’s the thing about God, the Lord acts independently of our senses. Even if we don’t see it, God is still acting on our behalf.

Isaiah uses words that get at the heart of God’s intentions. God is bringing new life to replace the wasteland of the past. Water is the one thing that can bring new in the desert.

That is what God wants to do in your life. Replace the barrenness of your past mistakes and bring new life moving forward.

We talked about the woman at the well in worship two weeks ago. She had a painful past that affected her present and potential future. So Jesus offered the woman at the well in John 4 living water. Jesus offered her the Holy Spirit so that she can find a better quality of life moving forward.

Jesus offers that same Holy Spirit to you to smooth out your present and offer your greater connection in the future.

God is making a way in the desert places in your life. Jesus is laying a spiritual path for you to move forward and along the way he is planting flowers where there was once only rocks and dust. Why? To remind you of God’s promises throughout scripture that your new life in Christ can start in the desert moments of your life.

Radical grace is real.

Regardless of your age, in faith, the best is yet to come.

God bless,
Pr. Ben