Don’t Dwell on What God Has Delivered You From

So much of our lives are shaped by the memories we choose to hold on to. Too often, we gravitate toward the negative—the trauma, the pain, the disappointments. We replay the wrongs done to us, retelling those stories until they feel like the very fabric of who we are. Bad memories and the emotional baggage that comes with them sometimes become our badges of honor. The more hardship we’ve endured, the more we feel compelled to share the scars. Blaming often feels easier than moving on.

I recently read Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier, which highlights how many who seek treatment stay trapped in their past. They remain fixated on their pain, their nervous state, and never step into the freedom of a better existence. In the case of deep trauma—like childhood abuse—it is undeniably horrific. But even then, it does not have to define our future or give us permission to harm ourselves or others as adults. Sometimes we mistake our wounds for our identity. Without them, we wonder, who would I even be?

Modern therapy often strips away the spiritual dimension. It replaces God with endless thinking, medication, and science as the only answer. But our souls still long for something deeper. We yearn to see the beauty woven into our journey. To recognize the people who loved us, still love us, and those who quietly helped along the way.

When I look back, yes, there were childhood struggles. But there was also my Little League coach who encouraged me. My CYM teacher who showed me kindness. My mother and father cheering at my ball games. Good neighbors. My loyal dog. And countless other small blessings that easily get overshadowed by pain if I let them.

Today, I practice gratitude—not as a destination, but as a daily discipline. It shifts my focus. Each morning, I close my eyes and truly see what I have. I’m here. I’m breathing. I have loved ones. I have a roof over my head. Many don’t.

So, remember God, not the bad memories. Let Him show you the beauty in your journey, the grace that’s been there all along.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Closing Prayer
Lord, help me to release the grip of old wounds and painful memories. Open my eyes to the blessings You’ve given me—the people, the love, the moments of quiet grace. Teach me to see beauty where there was once only bitterness. Guide me into gratitude and remind me daily that with You, I am not defined by my past. Amen.