So Sangster goes on, and he says there are some things that we should forget in our lives. And he says this in the sermon: “I've been amazed at the number of people who have overcome the great sorrows of their life, but who cannot recall the silly things they said on certain occasions without the most crippling embarrassment. They go hot all over, avoid the company, if they can, of the people who witnessed their stupidity, and suppose that these others recall the silly thing as often and as contemptuously as they do themselves.”
And then he says, “Forget it! There was no evil intention. All of us have slipped in this way on some occasion or other. Put it behind you, and put it behind you now.”
Letting Go of Embarrassment from the Past
Let’s forget the things that embarrassed us in our past!. I think this is an important principle. I think a lot of us do feel so ashamed and embarrassed by silly mistakes we’ve made. And I believe that often the enemy uses these to prevent us from going forward.
You see, if we are caught in the embarrassment of something we got wrong in the past, the enemy can cloud your mind with it so that you don’t attempt something similar in the future. Maybe part of the answer for us is to own our mistakes, not deny them or be ashamed by them, but own them. In fact, even maybe laugh at ourselves because of them! But then learn from them and move forward.
Isn’t God in the business of taking our past and making us better because of it? I believe He is.
Moving Forward with Confidence in God’s Plans
I want to say to you today that the things that have embarrassed you in your past can be things that empower you in the future, if you learn from them. Use them. Use learning moments as motivation.
God has got great plans for you. Don’t let your embarrassment of things in the past stop you from moving forward and doing great things for Him now and in the future.
Lopez Lomong's American family gave him space to leave his painful past behind rather than dwelling on it - ask yourself today whether you're still carrying something God has already asked you to release.