If you’re like me, you have regrets. You’ve made mistakes and you’ve left undone things that ought to have been done.

If you’re like me, there are times that you wish you were dreaming; that, at any moment, you’d be jolted awake; back to a time when things were simpler; to a time when things were easier. You wish you could wake up in that moment when everything was right; when everything was as it should be.

It seems to be a fantasy that we all share as human beings: the ability to travel back in time and redo things in a different and better way.

“Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness; Just as I was in the days of my prime, when the friendly counsel of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were around me; When my steps were bathed with cream, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!” (Job 29:2-6)

But…

The truth is that we can’t go back. We can’t erase our mistakes. We can’t do what we should have done. We can only move forward. We can only push ahead.

One of the greatest gifts that a person can possess is hope. Hope looks ahead with optimism of something better. Hope gives us a reason to keep fighting. Hope makes this life tolerable when the darkness seems to overwhelm and we feel as though we’re drowning in difficulty.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

Thanks be to God that, while we can’t undo our mistakes or go back and do what we should have done, we can be forgiven!

“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses…” (Colossians 2:11-13)

Thanks be to God that, while we can’t “wake up” from how things are to a different time and place, we can learn from the past and move forward with greater knowledge, wisdom, and strength!

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Thanks be to God that this life is not all there is. There is joy that awaits those who are found in Him (Galatians 3:26-27). The greatest memory you have; the greatest dream you can dream; neither even begins to compare with how glorious and awesome heaven will be.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

I want to go there.

If you’re like me, you do too.

Today; this very moment is the first of the rest of your life. Don’t dwell on the past. Keep moving forward because the truth is…

There’s no place else to go.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)