Dear Past,

I didn’t see that coming.

In fact, most of us don’t. None of us wake up one day and expect life to curve in a direction that leaves us speechless, breathless, or questioning everything we thought we knew. If you’re reading this today, chances are you’ve had moments that blindsided you too—moments that didn’t ask for your permission, didn’t check your schedule, and didn’t offer you the courtesy of preparing your heart ahead of time.

Life changes us.
Storms shape us.
Loss, disappointment, and unexpected detours refine us.

But here we are—still standing, still breathing, still learning. And as I look back at my own journey, I realize something: my past was not my enemy… it was my teacher. It didn’t ruin me; it prepared me. And while I once resented the lessons, now I see the wisdom in them.

So today, I’m writing this not just to my past—but to yours as well. Because no matter where you’ve been, God stands ready to redeem what you thought was wasted.

Let me tell you what the past taught me… and maybe what yours has been trying to teach you too.

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1. Before I Could Move Forward, I Had to Stop Fighting Myself

For years, I wrestled with old wounds—replaying memories, reliving moments, rehearsing fears. I thought I was “processing,” but really, I was stuck in a loop.

The truth is simple:
Pain is a part of life, but suffering is often something we choose.

When I finally stopped resisting reality—when I stopped fighting the truth of what had happened—something shifted. The heaviness that had followed me for years began to lift. I realized God wasn’t waiting on my perfection; He was waiting on my surrender.

“Cease striving and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

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2. Letting Go Wasn’t Losing—It Was Making Space for More

I feared that releasing the past meant walking into emptiness. But letting go didn’t leave my hands empty—it made room for restoration, clarity, and new beginnings.

Releasing what was allowed me to receive what could be.

Letting go wasn’t defeat.
It was deliverance.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:18-19

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3. Faith Is the Bridge Between Where I Am and Where I’m Meant to Be

For the longest time, I wanted guarantees. I wanted God to show me the whole map before I took even one step.

But He never promised clarity. What He promised was companionship.

When I stepped out in faith—even uncertain, even afraid—I discovered the miracle of a God who meets us on the journey, not just at the destination.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

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4. Closed Doors Weren’t Failures—They Were Redirections

I can’t count how many times I begged God to open doors that were never meant for me. I thought “no” meant rejection. But looking back, I see that every closed door was God’s way of steering me toward something better.

It wasn’t punishment.
It was protection.

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

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5. Knowing the Path Means Nothing If I Don’t Walk It

I used to believe that understanding a thing was the same as changing. I filled journals with plans, strategies, and dreams—but without action, nothing shifted.

Breakthrough requires movement.
Transformation requires obedience.
Change requires courage.

The right time?
Now.

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” – James 1:22

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6. True Peace Doesn’t Come from Control—It Comes from Surrender

I thought control equaled safety. That if I managed every detail, nothing would fall apart.

But life taught me differently. Control was exhausting, suffocating, and impossible to maintain.

Peace wasn’t found in gripping harder—it was found in letting go.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

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7. Fear Isn’t a Stop Sign—It’s an Invitation

Fear used to stop me cold. I thought fear meant I wasn’t ready, wasn’t strong enough, or wasn’t “spiritual” enough.

But I’ve learned something powerful:
Fear is often the clearest sign that God is calling you into deeper waters.

Fear doesn’t disqualify you. It simply reveals that you’re stepping into unfamiliar territory—territory where faith grows.

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

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8. Truth Is the Way Forward—Even When It Hurts

Acceptance is one of the hardest things we will ever face.
Accepting someone’s absence.
Accepting a season that’s over.
Accepting that something didn’t become what we prayed it would be.

But truth is a healer. It doesn’t always feel good, but it always leads to freedom.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

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9. Prayer Changes Everything

Not the polished, neatly-worded prayers we sometimes feel pressured to pray.
Not the quick, routine prayers we whisper before rushing into our day.

But the raw prayers. The honest ones.
The “God, I can’t do this without You” prayers.

Those prayers unlock Heaven.
Those prayers move mountains.
Those prayers restore the soul.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3

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Thank You, Past—But I’m Not Looking Back

You didn’t give me what I wanted.
You gave me what I needed.

You stretched me.
Refined me.
Awakened me.
Strengthened me.

And now?

I’m walking forward—lighter, wiser, freer, and firmly rooted in the grace of God who never wastes a season.

My past shaped me, but it no longer defines me.

I’m moving forward. And I know exactly where I’m going.

Onward and upward…

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How You Can Apply This to Your Own Life

Set an Intention
Choose today to make peace with your past—not by ignoring it, but by blessing it and releasing it.

Reflect
What were the fears, lies, or expectations that once held you back?

Write a Letter to Your Past
Thank it for the lessons. Acknowledge the pain. Close the chapter with grace.

Because your past wasn’t designed to imprison you—it was designed to prepare you.

My prayer is that these words meet you where you are and lead you into the freedom and redemption found in Christ Jesus.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being the God who meets us in every chapter—our joy and our pain, our triumphs and our regrets. Today, I release my past into Your hands. I surrender every wound, disappointment, fear, and missed expectation. Heal what still hurts. Restore what was lost. Renew what grew weary.

Give me the courage to walk forward in faith, the wisdom to see Your hand in every detail, and the confidence to trust Your timing. Remind me that You are making all things new—even the parts of my story I thought were too broken to redeem.

Lead me, strengthen me, and surround me with Your peace. I choose today to step into the future You’ve prepared—with open hands, a surrendered heart, and unwavering hope.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.