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Have you ever caught yourself replaying the same painful memory over and over again like a broken record? Maybe it’s something you said that you wish you could take back… or something done to you that still stings even after all these years. I know I have.
It’s strange, isn’t it? We know the past can’t be changed, yet we visit it constantly—as if maybe, just maybe, this time it’ll make more sense. Or we hold on to the shame, the regret, the “should’ve known better” moments, dragging them around like heavy luggage through life.
But then God steps in and says something so radical, so freeing… if we’ll actually believe Him.
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
—Isaiah 43:18–19 (NLT)
And yet… here we are. Still dragging the past around like it owns us.
So why is that? Why do we hold on when Jesus already let go?
If you’ve ever tried to “move on” from your past and still felt stuck, you’re not alone. It’s something most of us wrestle with. Even when we want to believe we’re free, part of us still clings to:
Sometimes it’s because those experiences shaped us so deeply that we don’t know who we are without them. Or we’ve accepted a false belief that the past is who we are, so we have no right to expect better.
But here’s the thing—the past is not your prison, and it’s definitely not your identity.
Jesus didn’t die so we could stay in bondage to our memories.
He came to set the captives free—including the ones trapped in their own heads.
So, what if we believed Him?
This is where the beauty of the gospel really sinks in.
Jesus didn’t just take your sins.
He took your shame.
Your mistakes.
Your failures.
Your trauma.
Your fears.
Your broken record of “not enough.”
It’s not just that you’re forgiven—it’s that you’re made new.
But that doesn’t mean it always feels that way, right?
We might nod our heads in church or say all the right things—“I know I’m free in Christ!”—but deep down, if we’re honest… we still carry the weight.
That’s because freedom has to be received—and sometimes we don’t feel worthy of it.
But that’s what grace is. It’s not earned. It’s given.
And when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it. Not just your sin. But the heavy labels. The old stories. The dark shame.
It. Is. Finished.
Let’s talk about why it’s so hard to actually live like that’s true.
One reason? We’re creatures of habit.
Our minds have neural pathways—like ruts in a dirt road. The more we think a thought, the more likely we are to think it again.
So if you’ve spent years telling yourself, “I’m a failure,” or “I’m damaged,” or “Nothing good ever lasts for me,” your brain has basically been trained to go down that same road over and over again.
And even if you want to change, your brain goes: Wait, this is familiar. Let’s go back.
Which means part of healing is actually retraining your mind to think in alignment with truth—not trauma.
And this is exactly why the Bible tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). God knows how the brain works because He created it. He also knows it needs reconditioning.
Let’s take a minute to look at what researchers and psychologists have discovered.
Science calls it rumination—the tendency to repetitively think about the causes, situational factors, and consequences of one’s negative emotional experience.
According to psychologists, living in the past can lead to:
Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, one of the leading researchers on rumination, found that when people dwell too much on negative experiences, it inhibits problem-solving and prevents emotional healing.
But here’s the hopeful part: you can break the cycle.
New research in neuroscience shows that the brain has neuroplasticity—which means it can literally rewire itself with new thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. It’s not easy. But it’s possible.
And guess what? That aligns perfectly with Scripture.
God says He can give us a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).
He’s not just interested in changing your behavior—He wants to renew your entire being.
You might be thinking, But how do I let go of something that hurt so deeply?
Letting go isn’t about pretending it didn’t happen.
It’s not about denying your pain, ignoring the impact, or plastering a Bible verse over your wounds.
It’s about trusting that what Jesus did on the cross is enough.
That God’s healing is deeper than your history.
That you are not your worst moment.
Letting go is not a one-time event. It’s a daily choice to say:
“This may have shaped me, but it doesn’t define me.
God is doing a new thing.
I’m choosing to believe Him—today.”
And when the memories creep back in, when the guilt resurfaces, or the old shame whispers in your ear, you get to speak back with the truth:
“That’s not who I am anymore.
I am who God says I am.”
(And who He says you are, friend, is loved, chosen, and made new.)
So how do we actually live like Isaiah 43:18–19 is real?
Here are a few small, intentional steps you can take:
Pay attention to the phrases or stories that keep playing in your head. Write them down. Name them.
For every lie, find a Scripture that speaks truth over it. Speak it out loud. (Your brain needs to hear it.)
You don’t have to “fix everything” today. But you can surrender one memory. One regret. One fear. Trust Him with it.
Healing happens in safe spaces—places where you’re reminded who you really are, not who you were.
Even on the days you feel stuck, God is still doing a new thing. Healing doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like quiet consistency.
If you’re reading this and feel like, “This sounds great but I’m still not sure I know how to let go…”—that’s okay.
You’re not behind. You’re not too late. You’re not broken.
You’re becoming.
Every day that you choose to lean into God’s truth instead of the past…
Every moment you speak life over yourself instead of shame…
Every tear you let fall in His presence instead of bottling it up…
You are healing.
And He is doing a new thing—even if you can’t see it just yet.
If this blog stirred something in you—if it made you long for that healing space where your past doesn’t get to define you anymore—I want to gently invite you into something beautiful.
There’s a space where you can grow in emotional wholeness, gently and consistently. It’s not a class. It’s not a program. It’s just a safe place for you to keep growing, healing, and reconnecting with who you truly are.
Or if your heart is craving community—real, Spirit-led, safe community—The Purple Room is open. It’s a space where you’ll be seen, heard, and reminded of your value while walking alongside others on a similar journey.
💜 You don’t have to do this alone.
💜 You don’t have to carry the past anymore.
💜 And you don’t have to stay stuck.
God is doing a new thing.
Right now.
In you.
Let’s walk into it together.
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