God tells us clearly to stop dwelling on the past.
God wants to do a new thing, but it’s hard to walk into the new when we keep rehearsing the old. When we continually replay the past — the hurt, the trauma, the disappointment — we stay tied to it. The past has to be left behind if we want to move forward.
Jesus asked the man at the pool if he wanted to be made well, and then He told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk (John 5:8). That man would not have been able to get well if he stayed lying there, thinking about his condition, his history, or how long he had been stuck.
In the same way, if you want mental health, physical health, and emotional health, and healthy relationships, you can’t stay focused on everything that went wrong, everything that hurt you, or everything that happened before. Healing requires movement. Wellness requires forward motion.
You have to pick up your own slack — your feelings, your emotions, your weaknesses — and walk. That’s part of being made well.
We encourage you not to look back.
Don’t rehearse the past.
Pick up your mat.
Take responsibility for your healing.
And walk forward into what God wants to do next.
If you need someone to walk that out with you, we’re here for you whether it’s individually or corporately in prayer via our YouTube channel or more personal on our new Facebook Group Page…
It’s time to get well and let God bless your day 🙏
Reflecting on the verse from Isaiah 43:17-18, which urges us not to remember former things or dwell on the past, I find this teaching deeply transformative in daily life. Many of us hold onto pain from past experiences, often without realizing how it affects our present wellbeing. The challenge is that while the past is a part of our story, it should not dictate our future. In my own journey, acknowledging hurts and disappointments was the first step, but what truly made a difference was the conscious choice to stop replaying those memories. It's easy to get stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts and emotions, which can hinder mental and emotional wellbeing. However, like the man by the pool in John 5:8, whom Jesus encouraged to 'get up, pick up your mat, and walk,' healing demands action and movement forward. Taking responsibility for your healing means actively engaging in practices that nurture mental, emotional, and physical health. This might include prayer, meditation, seeking counseling, or joining supportive communities such as faith groups or healing circles. Having people walk alongside you—whether through shared prayer in a YouTube channel or participating in a supportive Facebook group—can provide accountability and encouragement. Moreover, 'picking up your mat' symbolizes embracing your experiences and strengths, no matter your past wounds, and deciding to progress despite challenges. It’s about relinquishing the weight of old traumas and stepping into the new opportunities God has for you. This forward motion brings peace and restoration. Therefore, the key takeaway is to not let the past define your identity or limit your potential for wellness. Healing begins with a mindset shift and is sustained by consistent steps toward growth and faith. Each day presents a new chance to leave behind the old and walk boldly into God’s plans for renewal and blessing.
