Biblical Answer

Understanding the Tension Between the Past, Present, and Future

The Bible teaches us that we live a story with a past, present, and future. The future pulls us along, and we strive after it, but we also learn from the past. However, when we get stuck in the past, it can control our future and prevent us from living in the present. The Bible says, "Do not worry about your life. Do not take the pressure of your provision upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives" (Matthew 6:25-34).

Addressing the Past and Living in the Present

To move forward, we need to address the past and its impact on our future. This requires a long, painful look back, acknowledging the pain we've been avoiding, and turning around to face down our history. The Bible says, "Remember that you being in time past Gentiles were at that time without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). We need to understand how our past intersects our future and find someone to help us do so. This is the year to acknowledge the pain and turn around, so it doesn't continue to reach out and sully our future.

Living a Life of Simplicity and Commitment

Instead of getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future, we need to find enjoyment in what is at hand. This doesn't point to a hedonistic or irresponsible existence but to a life of simplicity and ironic commitment in the fear of God. We need to learn from the past, but we can't let it control our future. We need to trust God to look after the practical details of our lives and focus on living in the present. As the Bible says, "The striving for the future will never satisfy, for things fail, decay, and are forgotten; the only sure expectations under the sun are injustice and death" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Let's live a life of simplicity, commitment, and trust in God, focusing on what is at hand, and not getting stuck in the past or worried about the future.