Unstopped, Undefeated – God Can – And Will – Always Forgive You 

By Bradley Shotts 

Recently, I was reading a Facebook post that asked this question, “What do you struggle with the most pertaining to the Bible?” It was interesting reading various responses. The one that caught my attention was from a gentleman who said, “I know that God cannot forgive me of my past.” Just in that short sentence I could feel his despair and anguish. I could not resist responding to his comment and I hope and pray what I told him gave the encouragement that his soul desperately needed. 

This gentleman obviously had some difficult days in his past, where he most likely made some poor decisions. Haven’t I just described every single one of us? You, me, we have all made poor decisions in the past and every one of us has things hanging in our closet that we wish were not there. But there is something else going on here behind the scenes that warrants immediate attention. 

Most people never take into account the spiritual warfare that rages and battles 24/7 behind the scenes of our lives. While we are going about each day, there is a war raging between God and Satan on who will win each soul for eternity. It is Satan’s daily objective to discourage, deflect, lie, cheat and steal, and to say or do anything to throw us off course and away from God. 

One area that seems to do the most damage and cause so many people to struggle is their past. You probably are familiar with those who seem to live in the past. They focus on past experiences and hurts, disabling them to live in the present, and in most cases, robbing them of the blessings and joys of today. In essence, they are exactly where Satan wants them to be. 

It is impossible to live a victorious life when you constantly concentrate on past events that crippled and hurt you. The word ‘crippled’ is an accurate description, because not only did it cripple you then, but because you refuse to let go of it, it continues to cripple you again and again day after day. Satan basically has you on autopilot, robbing you of any future happiness and joy. Not only has your life stopped, but you are also stuck, and you are defeated. 

This is the exact opposite of where God wants you and how He desires for you to live. Some sink so low in desperation that they have thoughts of taking their own life. The truth is, no one actually wants to take their own life, they just want the pain to stop. Trust me when I say… Jesus can take away your pain. The Bible says that He can make all things new. God desires this for your life. Stay with me as we look into how we can fix this crippling dilemma. 

The first thing to know and understand is this… You are incapable of repairing this on your own. Let’s face it: isn’t that what you have been trying to do now for years? It does not work. The only way to become free of your past and all of the hurt that comes with it is to hand it over to God. It is only through His power, forgiveness, love and grace that anyone can become free of this devastating bondage. It is important to mention that for a lot of people, this fact just revealed is either never carried out or not believed, thus never resolving a devastating way of life. It is crucial to know and understand that it is only through God that change will occur. 

Secondly, the Holy Word of God is very specific in teaching that the blood of Jesus that was shed at Calvary was shed for the purpose to completely and totally wash away all of our sins. The blood of Jesus paid the price for every wrong that you have done. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” that is exactly what He meant. It is finished! Jesus died on the cross and paid the price of sin for all of us. 

Lastly, you need to understand this profound statement… “God does not care about your past. He cares about YOU and your future.” Let that sink in. 

You may have had some really terrible things happen to you. While that is unfortunate, it is also time for you to begin living again, putting your past in the past and moving forward with God, living a life of promise and hope. Paul, an apostle of Christ, who before his conversion would torture and kill Christians, was able to put his past behind him through the power of God. He writes in Philippians 3:13, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” 

Let’s give our past to God, shall we? Pray this prayer with me, please: 

Father, for so long now, I have allowed Satan to use my past to dictate my life, to run my life, and to ruin my future. Father, I come to You now asking You to please forgive me of all my past sins. I know that I cannot do this on my own. I am only victorious through Your power and because of the blood of Jesus that was shed for me. I give You my past, my hurt. I ask You to come into my life, into my heart and into my mind and bring forth healing in the name of Jesus. I no longer focus on past experiences; I now look ahead where You have placed my feet on solid ground… New ground where I look to You to lead me and guide me. I give my life to You, Lord. I ask You to bring healing and restoration where Satan has trod and has tried to destroy. Thank You, Lord, that through You all things are made new, and I now hold true to Your promises, which are there for me to live by, to have hope, and to be encouraged. Amen. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.” – Isaiah 41:10-13 

Bradley (Brad) Shotts began his ministry in the funeral industry in 1988 in Tyler, Texas. He currently serves as a director at Lucas Funeral Home, Hurst, Texas. He and his wife Amy live in Bedford, Texas. They have two adult children, Blaine and Braylee Shotts, and one grandson, Matthew. As God directs, Brad enjoys singing and speaking. He is an ordained minister and loves being used of God.