Bags From the Past
We all have bags from the past, it’s what’s meant when people say “these folks have baggage.” They are not literal bags but bags non-the less. The first bag is the “bag of regrets.” Regrets are things we wish we did or didn’t do. Advise we wish we heeded and did not. Investments and opportunities we missed or scams we fell for. I have a big bag that is filled with these.
The second bag is the “bag of disappointments.” Like regrets this bag comes from the past. The difference is this bag is about things we expected that did not happen: Family and friends who failed us, advancements and promotions that did not materialize, plans and dreams that fizzled into nothing. I have just as big a bag packed with these too.
The third bag is the “bag of frustrations.” Frustrations are the things that you want changed but can’t seem to. They are the recurring story of your life that you can seem to overcome. The old habit you can’t stop, the debt that won’t go away, the relational issues that look like they are here to stay.
In some way all three overlap with each other. Our regrets are also some of our disappointments, and both can be frustrating. Fact is it is hard to move forward when we are saddled by these bags. The reason is because they don’t go away rather they accumulate.
Herein lies the power of God for only He can resolve the past so we can move on to the future. Rooted in the Gospel God sent us Jesus so that all our sins can be forgiven thus giving us a fresh start. All it takes is faith to believe.
While the first step is to trust God for His mercy, forgiveness and saving grace, it is important to also believe that the Gospel is not limited just to save us for eternity but that has unlimited power to transform the future.
That despite all the regrets, disappointments and frustrations of the past God is able to do immeasurably more. He is able to cause us to forge ahead into a future. A future that will no longer be full of regrets, disappointments and frustrations as well learn to walk in His ways.
“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?" Isaiah 43:18-19a
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