It’s Time to Turn the Page

There was a season in my life when my husband and I weren’t attending church. It wasn’t because we didn’t love God or didn’t want to be connected—we just couldn’t find our footing. So there I was, on my own, with a growing hunger for God’s presence.

I started diving into Scripture like my life depended on it. I devoured devotionals, binged sermons like they were my new favorite Netflix series, and prayed more than I ever had before. In the middle of all this seeking, one word kept popping up everywhere I turned: turn.

No matter where I looked, there it was—“turn.” It was in every sermon, every verse, and every devotional. It was like God had a flashing neon sign in front of me that said, “HELLO?! Do you see this yet?”God had planted the word “turn” in front of me at every step, hoping I’d finally take notice. And after weeks of meditating on that word, not fully grasping what God wanted to tell me, suddenly I had it! One day, while I was driving and praying,I heard it clear as day: “Turn the page.”

And suddenly, it clicked. I’d been living my life with my eyes glued to the rearview mirror. Every hurt, every failure, every regret, every person who didn’t see my worth—I was dragging them along with me like old luggage I was too scared to unpack. I was replaying the past on an endless loop, convincing myself that if I stared at it long enough, I’d somehow rewrite it. Spoiler alert: that’s not how this works.

God was telling me something simple but powerful: “You can’t move forward if you keep living in the past.”

In Philippians 3:13-14 the Apostle Paul wrote,

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Paul doesn’t say, “Glance back occasionally and dwell on every bad decision you’ve ever made.” He says to forget what’s behind and press on. Easier said than done, right? But it’s the only way forward.

Here’s what I realized that day: when I stayed stuck on the old pages of my life, I am just trying to rewrite a chapter that’s already been written. But God isn’t a God of re-runs. He’s a God of new beginnings. Lamentations 3:22–23 tells us, “His mercies are new every morning.” That means He’s not holding us hostage to yesterday’s mistakes or failures.

But here’s the catch: you have to let Him turn the page.

And listen, I get it—it’s hard to let go. But dragging around regret and shame and bitterness and trauma is kind of like trying to drive with your parking brake on. You’re not going anywhere fast, and you’re definitely making the journey harder than it needs to be.

Jesus said it this way in Luke 9:62: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never plowed anything in my life (unless you count shoveling snow, which I don’t recommend). But I can imagine that if you’re constantly looking back while trying to plow, you’re going to make a mess. Crooked rows, a lot of tripping, and probably a sore neck.

It’s the same with life. When we stay stuck looking back, we miss what God is trying to do ahead of us. We miss the blessings, the growth, and the new story He’s writing.

So, here’s my invitation to you:

• If you’re stuck re-reading the story of your mistakes, turn the page.

• If you’re holding onto people who didn’t treat you right, turn the page.

• If you’re replaying every “what if” like a broken record, turn the page.

God isn’t done with your story. He’s the ultimate Author, and His pen doesn’t run out of ink. But to see what He’s writing next, you’ve got to stop clinging to what’s already been written.

Isaiah 43:18–19 says, “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?”

God is doing something new. He has new mercies, new blessings, and a new chapter waiting for you. But to experience it, you’ve got to let go of the past, take a deep breath, and trust Him to turn the page.

So, let go of the regrets, the hurt, the “what ifs,” and the “should haves.” Give it all to God and let Him write the next chapter. And if you need a little extra motivation, just imagine God whispering, “Seriously, don’t make Me use a bookmark to get you unstuck.”

It’s time, friend. Turn the page. The best is yet to come. Because the Author of your life has a lot more in store than what you’ve already read.