Is Longing for the Past Rejecting Your Promised Land?

Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Eqypt? Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Numbers  14:2-4, NLT

Are You Longing for Things of the Past?

Have you looked at your current life and longed for what is now the past? For some reason we do that. Something about this new and uncertain life makes us want to run and hide. The familiar of the old beckons us like a warm blanket. We allow our thoughts to draw us to believing life would be perfect “if only I could go back to the way things were.”

note: if your loss is fresh, or the loss of a person–allow yourself to grieve. Cry, miss, long for! That is normal and supposed to happen. As time goes on, if you realize you are ‘stuck’ longing for the past and not engaging in your present–you may be rejecting the new life God has for you

The Truth About Going Back

The truth is–there is no going back. If you could go back, things wouldn’t be the same. YOU wouldn’t be the same.

What would the children of Israel have faced if they had actually returned to Egypt?

They would have returned to a nation whose ruler had been killed, seemingly at their hand. Do you think there would have been a happy reception?

Just returning would have been practically impossible. Were they going to return the way they came?

Would God have split the sea for them to return to slavery. I’m certain that if they were going to return to slavery, He would have left them to find their own way back.

The Dream Does Not Match the Reality

For seven years I had a position at a company I loved. My position was eliminated and I had to start over elsewhere. I’ve often longed to go back and pick up where I left off, building a great program.

I recently returned for a visit. Things were familiar, but they were different. Different managers, different furniture, even different coffee. I was out of place. Even though at one time this had been MY place and MY space, my heart and mind let me know that is no longer the case.

Treasure What Was, Embrace What Is

I need to treasure those years I spent with the company. Treasure what I did and learned. I even need to treasure what it meant to me in that season of my life. But that is as far as it goes. It was a part of THAT season–not this one. I could try to force it to be a part of this season, but it just wouldn’t be what I want it to be.

God has called me (and you) to a new season. This new season may look scary and daunting. Uncertainty and unfamiliarity are sure to prevail at some point. It very well may have giants in it that we are certain will crush us. But that is not where your story ends!

God has brought you to this place. He has not abandoned you or sent you to a land that is meant to destroy you. This new land, new season, is an opportunity for God to meet you in very special ways. Will you trust Him and His Word, or will you be consumed with the desire to return to the old?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11, NLT 

This post is part of a 31 day series on Hope for Grieving Hearts. To see all of the posts in this series, click the button below. Thank you for reading. I hope you are blessed and encouraged.