We practically all have something in the past we would love the chance to remedy. It could be someone we took for granted, mistreated, or offended. Perhaps it was a decision point where we believe, in retrospect, we made the wrong choice. Sometimes we make decisions with such zeal that we do not give ourselves enough time to bring them to God in prayer properly. The reality is that our adversary, the devil, and his demons sometimes utilize these past failures to launch spiritual attacks against us (1 Peter 5:8). It is noteworthy likewise to remember that not everything is a spiritual attack. We may compound the issue by dwelling on such circumstances far longer than we ought to. In either case, we need to learn from our past mistakes, ask God for forgiveness when it is merited, and move on accordingly before we allow it to become a significant distraction.

There may have come times in our past when an individual or group of people wronged us, and it had a substantial negative impact. Under these circumstances, we must forgive them. God has graciously and mercifully forgiven us countless times (Matthew 6:14-15). Who are we not to extend that same courtesy to other people? God calls us even to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). There is no room for grudges, unforgiveness, and bitterness in the life of a believer. Life is far too short for us not to move on from these events. Of course, there may be circumstances where the grievance might frankly be unforgettable. We may even be prudent in ensuring that we do not put ourselves in a position to be taken advantage of again the same way. I think that this protocol would not be mutually exclusive to forgiveness. In other words, we can both forgive someone and avoid allowing them an opportunity to hurt us again. When we face these kinds of issues, we need to exercise discernment. Furthermore, we would be wise to ask God to enlighten us in prayer to figure out how to handle each situation one at a time (James 1:5).

A lot of us tend to steer away from any semblance of conflict. When it does not seem necessary, I tend to do the same. However, it takes confrontation to move beyond an issue in many instances. Maybe we have someone we need to reach to clear the air or set the record straight. Even if we decide this is the right course of action, it will suit us well to tame our temper. For instance, we can make sure we are not emotionally charged and try our best to empathize with their perspective before we engage them. The last thing we want to do is compound the problem with a new argument and cause more problems because we failed to exercise self-control in a critical moment. While this approach may not address the issue exactly when we face it, we are not sweeping it under the rug either. The last thing we want to do is bury our problems, arguments, and conflicts one at a time until, one day, things get out of hand. In this sense, I think there is merit to facing each challenge as it comes rather than allowing the accumulation of more minor problems to become a bigger one. Otherwise, petty issues that we failed to address in the past can potentially catch us with an unpleasant surprise in the future (Ephesians 4:26-31).

Another aspect of this we often face as believers has to do with our past sins. Instead of carrying that weight around with us, we should remind ourselves of God’s forgiveness. If God forgives us, who are we not to forgive ourselves for our shortcomings? If you still face the residual guilt of a sin God forgave a long time ago, you are doing yourself a disservice and carrying around an unnecessary burden (Psalm 55:22). If we already surrendered that at the foot of the cross, it has no business in our lives. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk according to the Spirit instead of the flesh (Romans 8:1). Take solace in God’s Word in times of trouble and submit your past along with its problems to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:7). None of us is perfect. We have all fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). God’s grace should not serve as a license to continue sinning, but we can trust that His grace, mercy, and love meet us amid our shortcomings when we need them most (Romans 6:1-4).

Do not give the adversary a foothold in your life. If you feel the temptation to rush into sin or make a hasty decision, it is not from God. God provides us with ways of escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). You are not alone in the battles you face. Whether seen or unseen, make sure you rely on God rather than your willpower to persevere. Our human will is limited and will eventually fail us (Proverbs 3:5-6). This reality makes it essential to rely on God to provide us the strength, wisdom, and discretion among His numerous other provisions. Some other examples include His full armor, prayer, and worship. These blessings empower us to cling to Him and experience victory by His power in times of distress. After all, apart from Jesus Christ operating in, with, and through us, we could never accomplish anything of eternal value. But with Him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), and God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). May He always receive all the glory for the victories we experience (1 Chronicles 29:11).