Get the Rock Out of Your Shoe
"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14
God is not a God who confines you to your past. He is not holding you hostage to your failures, mistakes, or painful moments. He is always calling you forward, weaving every broken piece of your story into a greater purpose. But the problem is that too many people live as if their past is an anchor instead of a stepping stone.
Maybe that is where you are. You are trying to move forward, but something keeps weighing you down. You replay conversations that cannot be changed. You relive moments that cannot be undone. You carry regret like extra baggage, and every step feels heavier than it should.
I was reminded of this when I climbed Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. It was a beautiful climb, but something was off. I had a rock in my shoe. At first, I ignored it, thinking I could push through. But every step was uncomfortable. It slowed me down. It distracted me from enjoying the moment. Eventually, I had to stop, take off my shoe, and get rid of it. Only then was I able to move forward freely.
That is exactly what holding on to regret does. As long as you keep it in your life, you will limp through every season, dragging the weight of what was instead of stepping boldly into what can be. Regret will keep you stuck, not because God has not made a way forward, but because you are too focused on looking back.
Jesus never lived that way. He showed that no matter how dark the moment, you can always move forward. That is why Paul tells you to forget what lies behind and strain toward what is ahead. This is not about erasing the past. It is about refusing to let it dictate your future.
Life is too short to keep walking around with a rock in your shoe. You cannot undo what has happened, but you can choose how you live moving forward. Let wisdom replace regret. Let love replace guilt. Let peace replace anger. And most of all, let God lead you forward. It is time to stop limping and start walking in the freedom He has for you.
God is not a God who confines you to your past. He is not holding you hostage to your failures, mistakes, or painful moments. He is always calling you forward, weaving every broken piece of your story into a greater purpose. But the problem is that too many people live as if their past is an anchor instead of a stepping stone.
Maybe that is where you are. You are trying to move forward, but something keeps weighing you down. You replay conversations that cannot be changed. You relive moments that cannot be undone. You carry regret like extra baggage, and every step feels heavier than it should.
I was reminded of this when I climbed Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. It was a beautiful climb, but something was off. I had a rock in my shoe. At first, I ignored it, thinking I could push through. But every step was uncomfortable. It slowed me down. It distracted me from enjoying the moment. Eventually, I had to stop, take off my shoe, and get rid of it. Only then was I able to move forward freely.
That is exactly what holding on to regret does. As long as you keep it in your life, you will limp through every season, dragging the weight of what was instead of stepping boldly into what can be. Regret will keep you stuck, not because God has not made a way forward, but because you are too focused on looking back.
Jesus never lived that way. He showed that no matter how dark the moment, you can always move forward. That is why Paul tells you to forget what lies behind and strain toward what is ahead. This is not about erasing the past. It is about refusing to let it dictate your future.
Life is too short to keep walking around with a rock in your shoe. You cannot undo what has happened, but you can choose how you live moving forward. Let wisdom replace regret. Let love replace guilt. Let peace replace anger. And most of all, let God lead you forward. It is time to stop limping and start walking in the freedom He has for you.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments