Embracing New Beginnings: Letting Go of the Past

Devotional

Day 1: Don’t Get Stuck on What Was—Turn to the God Who Is

It’s easy to become fixated on the past, especially when we feel like we’re not where we want to be in life, faith, or community. Nostalgia can cloud our vision, making us long for “the good old days” and leaving us discontent with the present. But God calls us not to dwell on what once was, but to look to Him in the here and now. When we let go of the past, we open our hearts to see the new things God is doing among us, trusting that He is still at work even when circumstances have changed. [10:31]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself longing for the past? How can you intentionally shift your focus today to look for the new thing God is doing right now?

Day 2: Bring Your Lament to God

When we’re hurting or discontent, it’s tempting to keep our frustrations bottled up or to vent them to others. But God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him, honestly expressing our grief, disappointment, and longing. Lament is not a sign of weak faith—it’s a vital part of a real relationship with God. He can handle our sorrow and our questions, and He wants us to bring our deepest feelings to Him in prayer, trusting that He listens and cares. [18:14]

Lamentations 2:18-19 (ESV)
“Their heart cried to the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite! Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.”

Reflection: Take a few minutes to write down what is weighing on your heart today—then bring those words honestly to God in prayer, asking Him to meet you in your lament.

Day 3: Our Hope Must Be in God, Not in the Past

It’s natural to place our hope in things that once brought us joy—relationships, achievements, or spiritual milestones. But true hope is found not in what we’ve experienced before, but in the unchanging faithfulness of God. Even when everything else is stripped away, His mercies are new every morning, and He remains our inheritance. Fixing our hope on God frees us from disappointment and empowers us to move forward, trusting that He is always enough. [21:28]

Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV)
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to place your hope in past experiences or successes? How can you renew your hope in God’s faithfulness today?

Day 4: Let Discontent Lead You Forward, Not Backward

Discontent can either trap us in bitterness or propel us toward growth. When we allow our dissatisfaction to turn into comparison or criticism, we get stuck. But if we bring our discontent to God and let it stir a holy longing for more of Him, it can become a catalyst for spiritual renewal. God wants to use even our restlessness to draw us closer to Him and to the new things He is preparing for us. [16:21]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: Where do you sense holy discontent in your life right now? What is one step you can take today to let that longing move you closer to God’s purposes?

Day 5: Glance at the Past, but Fix Your Eyes Forward

The past can be a helpful reference, but it’s not meant to be our focus. Just as a driver can’t move forward by staring in the rearview mirror, we can’t step into God’s future for us if we’re always looking back. God calls us to remember His faithfulness, but to keep our eyes fixed on what He is doing now and where He is leading us. Let’s trust Him with our future, believing that He has good things ahead. [27:08]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “look forward” in faith this week, rather than dwelling on what’s behind? How will you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus as you move ahead?

Sermon Summary

It’s good to be back together after a couple of weeks away, and I’m grateful for the encouragement and inspiration from the recent International Campus Ministry Conference. Being surrounded by so many young people worshiping God was a powerful reminder of the energy and hope that God continues to stir among us. Yet, coming home, I’ve also felt the weight of discontent—whether it’s in my own life, my running, or in conversations with many of you. We all have areas where we feel we’re not where we used to be, or not where we want to be. Sometimes, we look back on the past with nostalgia, longing for the “good old days”—in our marriages, our jobs, our health, or even our walk with God. But if we’re not careful, we can get stuck there, unable to move forward.

The Israelites knew this feeling deeply. After the fall of Jerusalem, they mourned the loss of their former glory, feeling abandoned and broken. Lamentations captures their heartbreak: what was once great had become desolate. Yet, God’s word to them—and to us—is not to dwell on the past. In Isaiah 43, God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Even in exile, God was at work, making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The challenge for us is to let go of what was, so we can perceive what God is doing now.

When we’re not where we want to be, the first step is to bring our lament to God. Lamentations teaches us that it’s okay—even necessary—to pour out our grief, frustration, and discontent before the Lord. God can handle our honest prayers, and it’s better to bring our pain to Him than to let it fester or spill out onto others. The second step is to fix our hope on God Himself, not on circumstances, achievements, or even spiritual milestones. Lamentations 3 reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning, and our inheritance is in Him, not in what we’ve lost or hope to regain.

Moving forward means glancing at the past for reference, but not living there. Like driving a car, if we fix our gaze on the rearview mirror, we’ll never move ahead safely. Let’s allow our holy discontent to propel us toward God, trusting that He is faithful and that He is doing something new among us. Our hope is not in what was, but in the God who is.

Key Takeaways

1. Nostalgia can blind us to God’s present work. While it’s natural to remember the past fondly, we must be careful not to let nostalgia keep us from seeing the new things God is doing right now. God’s call is to “forget the former things” so we can perceive His fresh movement in our lives and community. [12:52]
2. Honest lament is a vital part of spiritual health. God invites us to bring our grief, frustration, and discontent directly to Him, rather than bottling it up or venting it to others. True lament opens the door for healing and keeps our hearts soft before God, preventing bitterness from taking root. [18:14]
3. Our hope must be anchored in God, not in circumstances or past experiences. It’s easy to place our hope in spiritual highs, relationships, or visible growth, but these can fade or change. God’s faithfulness and mercy are unchanging, and He alone is our true inheritance and source of hope. [21:28]
4. Moving forward requires letting go of the past. Like a driver who can’t move ahead while staring in the rearview mirror, we must learn to reference the past without being fixated on it. God calls us to look ahead with faith, trusting that He is making a way even in the wilderness. [27:08]
5. Holy discontent can be a catalyst for spiritual renewal. Rather than letting dissatisfaction paralyze us, we can let it drive us to seek God more deeply and to trust Him for new beginnings. God often uses seasons of loss or longing to draw us closer and to reveal His ongoing work in our lives. [16:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Reflections from the Campus Ministry Conference
[02:45] - The Challenge of Discontent and Nostalgia
[03:17] - “They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To”
[06:49] - Lamentations: Israel’s Heartbreak
[08:15] - The Loss of Glory and Identity
[10:31] - Main Point: Don’t Get Stuck on What Was
[11:47] - The Dallas Cowboys and Letting Go
[12:52] - God’s Call: “See, I Am Doing a New Thing”
[15:03] - What Are You Stuck On?
[16:21] - Turning Discontent into Prayer
[18:14] - Bringing Lament to God
[20:59] - Expressing and Processing Discontent
[21:28] - Hope in God’s Faithfulness
[24:35] - God’s Faithfulness in Exile
[26:00] - The Rearview Mirror Analogy
[27:08] - Moving Forward with Hope
[28:00] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV) — > But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
> The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
> his mercies never come to an end;
> they are new every morning;
> great is your faithfulness.
> “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
> “therefore I will hope in him.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV) — > “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
> Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
> I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Lamentations 2:18-19 (ESV) — > Their heart cried to the Lord.
> O wall of the daughter of Zion,
> let tears stream down like a torrent day and night!
> Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite!
> Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches!
> Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!
> Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children,
> who faint for hunger at the head of every street.

Observation Questions

In Lamentations 3:21-24, what does the writer say is the reason for his hope, even in the middle of suffering?
According to Isaiah 43:18-19, what is God’s instruction about the past, and what is He promising to do?
In Lamentations 2:18-19, what are God’s people encouraged to do with their grief and sorrow?
The sermon mentioned that nostalgia can blind us to what God is doing now. What are some examples the preacher gave of people getting stuck in the past? [12:52]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God tells His people to “forget the former things” and not dwell on the past? What might happen if we ignore this instruction? [12:52]
The preacher said that honest lament is a vital part of spiritual health. Why is it important to bring our discontent and pain to God instead of bottling it up or venting to others? [18:14]
In Lamentations 3, the writer says, “The Lord is my portion… I will hope in him.” What does it mean for God to be our “portion” or inheritance, especially when we feel like we’ve lost so much? [21:28]
The sermon used the analogy of driving while staring in the rearview mirror. What does this image teach us about how to relate to our past and move forward with God? [26:00]

Application Questions

The preacher shared about feeling discontent with his running times and other areas of life. Is there an area in your life where you feel stuck or dissatisfied because it’s not like it used to be? How does this affect your relationship with God or others? [03:17]
Are there specific memories or “good old days” in your faith, marriage, work, or health that you find yourself longing for? How might this nostalgia be keeping you from seeing what God is doing right now? [12:52]
The sermon encouraged us to bring our lament to God. What is one thing you are grieving or frustrated about right now? How can you express this honestly to God in prayer this week? [18:14]
The preacher said that sometimes our hope gets stuck in past experiences, spiritual highs, or relationships. Where is your hope anchored right now? Is it in God Himself, or in something that could change or fade? [21:28]
The analogy of the rearview mirror suggests we should reference the past but not live there. What is one practical way you can “glance” at your past for learning, but keep your focus on what God is doing now and ahead? [26:00]
The sermon talked about “holy discontent” as a catalyst for spiritual renewal. Is there a longing or dissatisfaction in your life that could actually push you to seek God more deeply? What would it look like to let that discontent move you toward God instead of away from Him? [16:21]
The preacher suggested writing down areas of discontent and bringing them to God. Would you be willing to try this practice this week? What do you hope might change if you do? [20:59]

Sermon Clips

What once was great sometimes is lost. And in that moment, we can start to believe that what was lost is all there will ever be. We can start to believe that we can't get it back. And so I've got one main point for us this afternoon. When you're not where... When you're not where... Thank you. You want to be. Don't get stuck on what was, but turn to the God who is. [00:10:14] (32 seconds) #TurnToGodNotPast

``Brothers and sisters, don't get stuck on what was but turn to the God who is now. I strongly believe that that if we if we lose sight of what's in the past we'll be able to see more clearly what God's trying to do right now among us and how the spirit's trying to to lead us forward um so we're not staying fixed on what was before. [00:16:27] (31 seconds) #LamentToGodFirst

The interesting thing is, often we're tempted to bring our discontent to the people around us and expect them to handle our frustrations. God's the one who can handle it. Please don't bring your discontent to me. Take it to the Lord, at least first take it to the Lord, right? And then come talk to me. We've got to take it to God. It's too easy for us to just share with one another what we should be bringing to the Lord. [00:19:37] (31 seconds) #WritePrayRelease

Don't get stuck on what once was. Turn to the God who is, amen? You know, the second thing, we've got to remember that our hope must be in God. Our hope must be fixed on the Lord. [00:21:10] (19 seconds) #GodsFaithfulInheritance

Have you ever tried driving while staring in your rear view mirror? I would tell you to try it on your way home, but I'm afraid somebody would send me their body shop bill if you do. You know, you may be able to stay in your lane for a little while, trying to drive while staring in that rearview mirror, but eventually it's not going to end well, right? That rearview mirror is good for reference, but it's not where we're supposed to keep our eyes fixed. It's good to glance at, but it's not meant for a gaze. And so no matter how hard you try, you can't move forward if your eyes are locked on what's behind. [00:26:24] (60 seconds)

Brothers and sisters, let's allow the discontent in our lives to lead us forward and to keep our hope in Christ. Don't get stuck on what was. Turn to the God who is. [00:27:24] (17 seconds)

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