I had the privilege last weekend of taking my grandkids to Cadboro Bay in Victoria and watch them play on the Cadborobayasaurus that I played on when I was a little boy.
Their excitement as they climbed and played was drumming up great memories of my own. As I posted a pic on social media and waxed nostalgic I realized just how powerfully my history was at work within me. In that moment it was a very positive impact. Unfortunately, my life is at times shaped by a history that is not so pleasant: mistakes I have made, bad habits formed in my youth, negative experiences foisted upon me, etc. Thoughts and feelings arise that I desperately wish would just go away.
Our past - both good and bad - are impacting our present and forging our future. Furthermore the harsh reality of history is it cannot be undone.
But there is another law at work in me. One that is also powerfully shaping my life.
Like Macbeth of Shakespeare fame, I have tried and tried and tried to rub the stains of many sins out of my life, but to no avail. Yet just one touch from Jesus and I was made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). It is a forgiveness and a healing rooted in the historical action of Jesus being born into humanity, living a sinless life, dying as a substitute and then rising again from the dead to proclaim victory over the darkness. Now I live free. I haven’t forgotten my past, but it no longer holds the power over me it once did.
I am being renewed.
If you are struggling to find joy in the moment and are finding that hurts from the past are still shaping your today, then I encourage you to pray to Jesus and ask him to lead you into healing. With him comes fullness of joy for today and forevermore.
