“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
Have you suffered a loss or a major disappointment lately that has paralyzed your progress of moving forward? Was it the loss of a job or a loved one? Or was it the disappointment of a failed relationship? Whatever it is that has you cemented in pain, I hope that these words of encouragement will set you free from despair.
There are times in all of lives when we’ve had to endure a loss of some sort; and for many of us, our experiences have been extremely overwhelming. The unexpected events of life will often throw curve balls that will knock us off base and make us feel that we don’t have what it takes to recover and move on.
However, I assure you that all loss doesn’t have to be perceived as bad, because there are times that we must suffer a loss to gain something greater. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Have you ever lost a job only to gain a better one? Have you lost a loved one to gain a better appreciation for life? Have you lost a turbulent relationship only to gain peace? Therefore, all things are working together for every season of your life.
I challenge you today to get up and look past your pain. Ask God to show you what it is for you to gain, because it’s time to move forward.
Father, thank you for my life and all it entails. Thank you for the good times and the challenging times. And thank you for healing me and giving me the right perspective of my past so that I may be strengthened by your spirit to move forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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