I can recall a specific afternoon, it was a Friday afternoon and I was  stuck in traffic; I had a long day at work, I was tired, hungry and just plain irritable.  I stared at the piercing red lights in front of me and for a brief moment, I glanced into the rear view mirror only to be captivated by a beautiful array of orange, pink and lavender painted across the sky behind me. Instantly, my scowl turned into a smile; I was no longer focused on the mayhem in front of me, instead I was in awe of the beauty behind me. 

This is a fitting example of the feeling I get when I take my eyes off of my problems and glance back at God’s grace throughout my life.

What about you? Do you ever stop to ponder God’s mercy and grace or reflect upon all that God has delivered you from?

If you’re anything like me, your focus tends to be more on the future and where you’re going rather than where you’ve been; I’ve found, however, this ‘forward-focused’ thinking  only places the Lord’s greatness in our rear view mirror and which overtime, slowly fades off into the distance. 

What if we glanced back every once in awhile? 

What if we took a purposeful peek at the past and remembered who we once were, the old woman (or man) we left behind, and how far the Lord has brought us? How much would that encourage us towards the future?

“But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.” (Psalms‬ ‭77:11-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

It blows my mind every time I reflect back and it’s a sure-fire way to put my weakness and His greatness into perspective. 

We’re apt to get entangled in our current dilemmas, drama, and emotions but what if instead, we became enthralled by His mercy and grace?

I can guarantee, if you have surrendered your life to Christ, you are far better off now than the person you used to be. You may have been lost but by his grace you were found.

If you’ve been focused on the road ahead, the obstacle in your path or the roadblock in your way, sneak a quick peek in the rear view mirror and remember all that God has delivered you from and be reminded of all that He has yet to do.

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isaiah‬ ‭46:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Know that his grace is enough and let it encourage you, uplift you and propel you into all the Lord has in store.  

Stop & Reflect: Where does your focus tend to be? Have you quickly forgotten all that the Lord has done in your life? Think back and recall a time where the Lord has delivered and poured His grace upon you in a time of weakness.

If you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear your story in the comments below. 

Thank you for visiting, God bless. 

Anita Marie