When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams By Jill Eileen SmithSample

Day 7

What I Had Was Better than This

Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever longed for a time that used to be? Has your life ever changed so much that you wish you could relive the past? 

I wonder how often Lot’s wife felt that way. We don’t know much about her story from Scripture other than she looked back on the cities after the angel of the Lord told her not to. She turned into a pillar of salt. Why did she look? Was her glance rooted in a longing for what she couldn’t keep?

Clinging to what’s past is never a good thing. We don’t want to end up like the woman in the nursing home who clung to her baby doll as though it was real or to dream of Christmases past, which can never be again. We don’t want to come to the end of our lives and wish we’d lived better and accepted the path God had for us. Because even if the road is marked with twists and turns we don’t quite like, we know a better future is coming.

The past will only drag us down to places we don’t want to go—to depression, even mental instability if we let it go too far. The present can be good if we focus on doing the work set before us. And the future will be even better if we know the one who holds it and us in His hands. The apostle Paul knew what it meant to reach the prize that awaits the faithful believer at the end of this life. He saw what was coming and didn’t want to go back (Philippians 3:13-14).

When we are tempted to cling to what is past, or to look back and think that what was is better than what is or will be, remember God’s promise to Israel, which carries truth for all who believe: His plans for us will give us hope, not harm. They are good, and our future holds so much promise (Jeremiah 29:11)!

May we embrace that truth, let go of what holds us back, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who holds our futures in His capable hands.

Lord, when I feel unable to accept the way You’ve directed my life, please remind me of Your sovereign plan for me. Please help me to trust You to give me everything I need to reach the goal you’ve set in front of me.