Don’t Allow Past Disappointment to Steal from Today’s Joy
“Don’t think about the past.
I am creating something new.”
When past disappointment becomes routine, it’s easy to believe it will always be that way. Here’s how to break the pattern and be set free!
patterns of past disappointment
You’ve probably seen a pattern in your life where a similar disappointment or loss happened many times.
Maybe you’ve seen a pattern in your life where a dear friend rejects or betrays you. Maybe you’re in a cycle where you keep praying for healing that just hasn’t come yet. It could be a cycle of people in authority who could help you put you in harm’s way instead. Or it could be simple as every time you schedule coffee with friends, they end up needing to cancel last minute.
Anytime we start to see a repeated pattern, we begin to believe this lie: “If it’s always been this way, it will continue to always be this way.”
don’t let the past steal from today’s joy
After thinking on a repeated pattern of disappointment in my own life, Holy Spirit said so clearly to me:
“Get up! Don’t let the disappointment of the past steal from the good plans I have for your future.”
Sometimes, due to repeated painful scenarios in the past, we can begin to shut a new door before it even has a chance to open. We think, “Well, every ______ (fill in the blank: friend, church, opportunity, professor, doctor, job, relationship, etc) from the past let me down, so this new person probably will too.”
Many engage in this type of thinking, disguising this train of thought as a form of self-protection. Put up a wall. Don’t trust again. Don’t hope again. And then you won’t be disappointed again. Assume the worst so you’re not let down.
But Holy Spirit showed me:
“Self-protection is just self-sabotage in disguise.”
how do we get set free?
1.) Forgive:
We must forgive the past hurts so they can’t keep us in a prison of bondage. Forgiveness sets you free.
2.) Guard your thoughts:
We must guard our thoughts or they’ll become the iron bars that keep us in that prison. But how do we practically “guard our thoughts”? To start, when we hear these self-sabotaging lies that disappointment from our past will inform disappointment in our future, then do this:
- Recognize that this is a lie of the enemy, that it will “always” be the way it has “always” been. (When you hear “never” and “always” in your thoughts… that’s a big bright red flag to pay attention to your thoughts and nip any false beliefs in the bud.)
- Renounce that lie and come out of agreement with it.
- Ask God to give you a picture of what’s true in this situation. Ask the Lord to show you where this pattern started in your life, and then ask Him to show you where He was in the situation.
3.) Pray:
Ask God to restore your hope that He has good things ahead for you, regardless of how you’ve been hurt in the past. Ask God to restore your trust that His heart for you is still good.
By guarding your thoughts in this way, you take back authority and your inheritance of joy.
a practical example
option b: partnering with rejection
When you partner with these lies, you give authority to that lie to operate in your life. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, if you believe that because you’ve “always” been rejected, then you’ll “always” be rejected… then you’ve given the spirit of rejection to continue to bring rejection into your life. And then what might be an actual loyal, healthy, godly relationship won’t have ever even have a chance. Because the spirit of rejection will push people away and prove itself “right.”
option a: breaking off rejection
But if you forgive those who have rejected you in the past, recognize and renounce this false belief that you’ll continue to be rejected, and then ask God to restore your hope and trust for the future… then you’re free! You’re no longer under the bondage of rejection. So when someone faithful and godly comes along, you won’t cause rejection before you even give this person a chance. You’ll risk relationship again and it might turn out to be the best and healthiest relationship you’ve ever had!
so don’t look back!
Forget what happened long ago!
Don’t think about the past.
I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streams in thirsty lands.
So burn the ships! Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back!
Forget the former things because, can’t you see it? God is doing something new!
Til next time… Toodle-loo, and Peace be with you.
If you want to put your past behind you and walk in new life, here’s a prayer to ask Jesus set you free.
If you decided to give your life to Jesus today, please let us know so we can share in your new joy! And seek out someone in your area who loves Jesus and walks in humility who can help show you the way.
