When It’s Time to Move Forward

 

Some seasons feel like spiritual whiplash—like everything around you is shifting, breaking, or shaking loose. And just like Lot’s family in Genesis 19, God may be telling you it’s time to move forward, but the temptation to look back is strong. In Genesis 19:17 (NLT), the angels told them clearly, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back…” Still, Lot’s wife turned around—and in an instant, her future was gone. She became a pillar of salt. When we keep glancing back at what broke us or where we came from, we risk getting stuck in places God has already called us out of.

Let’s be real: looking back can feel comforting. Even pain can be familiar. Maybe your thoughts are full of “if onlys”—if only I’d left sooner, if only I’d known better, if only I hadn’t trusted them. But God isn’t in the “if onlys.” He’s in the “what’s next.” And even if your past was heavy and full of suffering, that’s not where your story ends. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you... They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God is still redeeming, still moving, and still making our later days better than our former ones. But you can’t follow Him while you’re staring in the rearview mirror.

There are some wounds that don’t bleed on the outside—but they’re there. Emotional scars. Words that still sting. Abuse that tried to silence your voice. Sometimes we carry that pain like luggage, dragging it with us into every new place God sends us. But Romans 8:28 (NLT) offers this hope: “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” That means even the darkest moments can become tools in God’s hands—used for healing, for helping someone else, and for revealing His glory in your life.

You may feel like your life’s been tossed in a storm—like you’re just trying to stay afloat. But God never promised a life without turbulence. What He promised was presence. He promised peace in the chaos, and a future beyond the fire. Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” The storm may not be over, but you're not in it alone. And what you're walking through now is not the end—it’s a passageway into something new.

So don’t turn to salt. Don’t freeze in the middle of your breakthrough. You’ve come too far to give your past the final word. Let today be the day you decide to stop looking back with regret and start leaning forward with faith. God’s not finished with you yet. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished…” Stay in the process. Trust the stretching. Your healing, your hope, and your wholeness aren’t just ahead—they’re already yours in Christ. You’re not waiting for freedom to show up. You’re learning how to live in the freedom that’s already been given.  ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“When It’s Time to Move Forward”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.