As you and I have made it into this New Year, I feel it is really crucial to examine a common human attitude that checkmates the overall progress and migration into a better-positioned persona as we make progress at any point in life. As humans, we always want to settle for the familiar, because we see the future as unpredictable and uncertain. We are therefore tempted to opt-out from moving forward and then decide to remain in a state of status quo or would rather return to the way we were before.
Todd Wilson presented his view about the subject “turning back to the past” when he wrote; “To go any further would require more of us than we wanted to give”. This is one of the reasons we want to remain where we are or go back to the familiar, rather than going further in the courses of life. This affects our relationships, businesses, keeping fit (health), and spiritual lives, to mention a few. Paul charged the Galatian church when they retreated to the old life they used to live. When they discovered making progress seems more demanding, they decided to go back to living like pagans. Paul admonished the church in Galatia to continue living and progressing in the truth they already know and opened up their heart to the danger of looking back;
“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
(Galatians 4:8-9)
A typical story of wanting to go back can also be traced to the Israelites who wanted to turn back to Egypt when there were faced with a number of challenges in the wilderness, on their way to the Promised Land. The easiest remedy that comes to mind when faced with one challenge or the other in the journey of life is defecting to the familiar, but you and I have been built as resilient beings if we are only able to switch on the side of us which has the innate capacity to adapt to these present challenges and the future ones, as all these would only make us a more formidable force, with the internal readiness to progress, especially in this new year.
One of the reasons that we stick to our past testimonies and are more comfortable with the past is that we see the past as more promising than the future. But the antidote for such a feeling is to make an intentional effort to walk by faith and not by sight. That is if we decide to make effort. It’s all about choice! Jesus is the answer to any intimidating unforeseen circumstances that might be flashing through your mind now. The moment you overcome this fear, and you fix your gaze unto Jesus Christ, “the author and the finisher of your faith” (Hebrews 12:2), then you can rest assured that moving further in the pursuit of fulfilling your purpose will be a journey that is worthwhile.
In the past year, due to the global pandemic and a significant impact of the menace on the economies of the world, families, institutions and also the psychological effects on the same, turning back to past pains, agonies of loss, tragedies will not be a solution for progress but will be a detriment to living a purposeful life in the new year.
Looking ahead, and living by faith is the solution for a progressive and prosperous year 2022.
Happy New Year!
