Josh Oldenburger Blog 

In life, we all carry memories, regrets, and wounds from the past. Sometimes, it feels like the weight of yesterday is too much to bear. But God, in His mercy and love, calls us to let go, to release the past and embrace the new life He has prepared for us.

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“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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God’s promise is not rooted in what was, but in what is coming. He reminds us that clinging to old pain, failure, or even past success can blind us to the new path He is carving out before us.

The Apostle Paul, once a persecutor of the church, understood this deeply. He had every reason to live in shame, but he chose to look forward:

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“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:13-14​

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Letting go of the past doesn’t mean forgetting it entirely. It means releasing its power over you. It means choosing to believe that what Jesus did on the cross is greater than any mistake you’ve made, and that His resurrection means your story isn’t over.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Friend, you are not defined by your past—you are defined by the One who gave His life for you. Today, take a deep breath, and hand your past to the only One strong enough to redeem it.

Trust Him to turn your ashes into beauty.

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Prayer:

Lord, help me to let go of what lies behind and press forward into the new life You have for me. Thank You for your grace that covers my past, your strength that sustains my present, and your hope that secures my future.

Amen.

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Keep going my friends.