Moving Forward Without Closure

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Psalm 73:2-3 
  
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, brimming with opportunities and possibilities, many of us find ourselves grappling with the shadows of our past—moments that are painful, traumatic, and disappointing. The journey toward the future often demands that we confront unresolved issues, seeking closure from the people who caused us hurt and harm. Closure, defined by psychologists as the ability to gain clarity, healing, and resolution from traumatic life events, becomes a crucial stepping stone to moving forward.

In our human understanding of the world, we navigate life through the narratives we construct: past, present, and future. Our sense of self, emotions, and daily functioning hinge on the clarity of these life stories. Closure, then, becomes a vital tool to reorder and reconfigure our lives, providing explanations and understanding that allow us to move forward, even if we don't necessarily like what happened.
 
Yet, there are times when despite our best efforts, closure remains elusive. The person who mistreated us may have passed away. The employer who dismissed us might have relocated, leaving us tethered to the unresolved issues of our past. Coming to terms with the finality of something once deemed crucial can be a challenging and painful process.

In the midst of our inability to get closure, Psalm 75 becomes a beacon of wisdom, offering a lesson on how to move forward. The psalmist, Asaph, confesses to nearly losing his foothold, envious of the seemingly prosperous wicked. Yet, in his struggle, he finds solace and a way forward.
 
For those wrestling with the pain of an unattainable closure, the journey may seem difficult. However, Psalm 75 encourages us to lift our eyes beyond the unresolved past. It reminds us that even when closure is unachievable, God holds the keys to our future. As we release the grip on what cannot be resolved, we make space for God's divine plan to unfold.

If the pain of your past has become a hindrance to embracing God's work in your life right now, consider the wisdom of Psalm 75. It teaches us to fix our gaze on the One who holds our future, even when the closure we seek remains out of reach. Trust that in surrendering the unresolved to God, you can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and freedom.