“Remember Lot’s wife!” Luke 17:32 (CSB)

There are times in each of our lives when we look back and feel desperate to make time stand still, particularly when change happens.

Isn’t that what Lot’s wife did when God sent angels to escort her and her family out of Sodom? She looked back and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). What I’ve learned from her, and from my own experiences, is that we can’t stop and look back. It didn’t go well for Lot’s wife, and it never goes well for us either.

What’s more, looking back doesn’t enable us to go back, and more times than not, it just makes us stuck. In a place. In a space. In a memory. In a habit. In a mindset.

When Jesus invites us to follow Him, we don’t know everywhere we’re going, how long it will take, or what we will encounter along the way — but what we do know is that He will never leave us. To go where He is leading, we can’t spend all our time looking back to where we once were, much as we might want to, while simultaneously trying to look forward to where He is taking us.

I understand that life is full of unexpected detours, slowdowns and surprising stops that divert our focus. If we’ve not prepared ourselves to move through those times, that’s when we can get stuck looking back. And we can get stuck in places we never intended to find ourselves — spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally, financially or physically. To be honest, we can get stuck just about anywhere in life, can’t we?

When …

We like where we are.
We’re scared about the future.
We may not want to let go of what we love.
We’re disappointed.
We’re numb from the trauma we’ve endured.
We’re betrayed. Overwhelmed. Distracted. Wounded. Hopeless.

Sometimes, when we stop and think about what we have experienced, how can we not get stuck in disappointment, unforgiveness, bitterness, offense, fear, guilt, anxiety, insecurity, indifference, apathy, comfort or complacency? And yet, to move forward, we have to find a way to move through these exact places and more.

I imagine we all find it easier to stay stuck than to risk moving forward and what might come with it, like stepping out and feeling even more uncomfortable. It’s little wonder the writer of the book of Hebrews said that to solve this problem, we must focus our eyes on Jesus:

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV).

To continue going through the most painful part of His mission, Jesus focused on the joy that lay before Him. Because of His sacrifice, believers in Jesus won’t ever have to go through the kind of suffering He did, but we will go through difficult things. To help us, Jesus mic-dropped three words never to forget: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Let’s remember her and not look back. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the only One who can keep us moving forward in healing.

Heavenly Father, please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus so I can keep moving forward into all the plans and purposes You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

For more on the ways we can stop looking back and start moving forward, pick up a copy of Christine Caine’s latest book, Don’t Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose. You can find it everywhere books are sold or at dontlookbackbook.com.

ENGAGE

For more from Christine Caine, including her daily inspiration delivered to your inbox, visit ChristineCaine.com. You can listen to her podcast, Equip & Empower With Christine Caine; watch her TV program on TBN, Equip & Empower; or visit her YouTube channel. Find her on Facebook and Instagram @Christine Caine.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you” (NIV).

What’s one thing you can do today to redirect your focus from looking back to looking straight ahead?

What’s one step you can take today to keep moving forward with passion and purpose?

© 2023 by Christine Caine. All rights reserved.

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