Sometimes, we tend to attach ourselves to the past because we don’t know how to move forward. That is an unnecessary attachment that can cause repeated disappointments and will not produce good fruit.
It is hard to be honest with ourselves and admit that we don’t know what we are doing and where we are going. Therefore, we tend to gravitate to the past or the people in the past to give us a temporary joy. The truth is that we are not alone in this as it is seen various accounts in the Bible.
The Israelites had suffered as slaves for four hundred years, but once they came out of the slavery in Egypt and began wondering in the desert, they preferred slavery over the wilderness. The past looked much rosier than what they were experiencing.
Most people don’t like not knowing and not having a plan in life. What is known or gives them temporary satisfaction is preferred over aimlessly wondering in life. Some people like the “good old days.” Others are hurt by the past, but their focus is to prove to the people from the past that they were wrong. The truth is that those are all unnecessary attachments that are a waste of time, focus, and energy!
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
God has designed us with the desire to be connected and to belong. However, we tend to jump into relationships because we cannot see ourselves not connected or attached to someone. We also excuse our attachments because they are with Godly people, but, in reality, we are not dealing with our broken parts that continue to seek the same pattern in life.
The only true, healthy, and lasting attachment comes from abiding and remaining in Jesus. Many of us did very well when we were first introduced to Jesus, but over time, people and things started to crowd our attention. We began attaching ourselves to other people or ministries and assumed that it was healthy.
The truth is that the test of time will show the health of those attachments. Sometimes God allows those attachments to be pruned out of our lives because they no longer produce fruit. If we are not willing to let go of the unnecessary attachments it will be difficult to embrace the growth and the new things that God wants to bring into our lives.
The “good old days” are not coming back, but God still has a plan for our lives. There are new relationships and opportunities awaiting us, but they will not come to us by us becoming impatient or trying to attach ourselves quickly to someone or something. They will come when we are content in abiding in Christ and letting Him lead us into new and healthy relationships. Jesus reminded us that we can do nothing apart from him!
Sometimes we are unhealthy in how we attach ourselves to others, and we eventually find ourselves in similar circumstances. We need to allow the Lord to examine our hearts and our patterns, so we can learn to connect with others in a healthy way and not create unhealthy attachments regardless of how well the relationship is going.
We are people who enjoy having a routine or a plan, and if we don’t have it, we’ll try to find someone who does. Jesus on the other hand, continued to remind us that our most secure and stable attachment is in Him. This is the One relationship we need to maintain without polluting or diluting it. Abiding in Him is the place of stability and strength!
Do you find yourself stuck in the past? Do you continue to compare things to the past relationships or opportunities? Are you able to move forward not allowing the nostalgia of the past to keep you from experiencing new things?
How well are you abiding in Christ? Are you feeling secure enough that if healthy/new attachments don’t come for a while, you can be content in your relationship with Jesus!?