Looking Back Vs. Looking Ahead

This post is by Lindsey Bell.

Why do you think a car’s windshield is so much larger than its rearview mirror? 

Maybe there’s a reason. 

Maybe it’s because the most important place for us to focus our attention is on what lies ahead, rather than what we’ve already passed. 

But just because we’re meant to spend more time looking ahead doesn’t mean we should forget what’s behind us. There’s a time and a place for looking back, especially when we need to learn from our experiences.

And that’s exactly what we’re talking about on the blog this month: the importance of both reviewing—looking back to learn from where we’ve been—and previewing—preparing our hearts and minds for the journey ahead.

Scripture shows us both are essential.

For example, in Deuteronomy 6:10-12, it says, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers…be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (NIV). 

In this text, Moses reminded the people of the importance of looking back and remembering God’s faithfulness in the past. 

When we remember His faithfulness in the past, we’re able to move into the future with confidence, trusting He’ll be with us again.

But it’s also important to not get stuck in the past. 

Dwelling there can keep us from seeing what’s right in front of us. 

I love what Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 about looking forward: “But one thing I do: 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” (NIV).

Paul had good reason to want to forget his past. He was a persecutor of Christians, after all. A murderer. 

Though you and I might have different pasts (hopefully) than Paul, we too likely have things we regret…things we wish we had done differently. 

It’s in these instances where we would be wise to learn from the past but then move our focus forward. 

Don’t dwell so much on the past that you miss what God has in store for you in the present and in the future. 

Last week, in a silly dinner mishap, I realized just how important it is to pay attention to what’s right in front of you and to look ahead. 

Here’s what happened. I was making homemade pasta sauce with spaghetti noodles, roasted veggies, and focaccia bread. It was going to be delicious! At first, everything was coming together perfectly.

Twenty-five minutes in, my kitchen smelled amazing. I reached into the pantry to grab the pasta… and realized it wasn’t there. We had no pasta whatsoever to go with the sauce that was already almost ready. Dinner was ruined.

Have you ever done something like this? 

Midway through a recipe, you realize you’re missing a key ingredient, and dinner cannot be salvaged. 

If only I had reviewed the recipe first and pulled out all of the ingredients before I began! That small step would have saved the night. 

But without looking ahead, I set myself up for disappointment. 

In our lives, especially as people of faith, it’s important to look ahead to where we’re going and to look back at where we’ve been. The title of this article is Looking Back Vs. Looking Ahead, but maybe it’s not an either/or situation. Maybe instead, we need both. 

Because by looking back, we gain wisdom, and by looking forward, we set ourselves up to step out in faith. 

So today, as this year comes to a close and we prepare for the next year, let’s spend some time doing both: looking back at God’s faithfulness and looking forward to what he might want for us in the coming year. 

Lindsey is the author of two books, Unbeaten and Searching for Sanity, as well as the ghostwriter of an International Bestselling book. She is a contributing author to various other books including: Hello Mornings Bible studies, the Abba’s Heart devotional collection, and the Big Dreams from Small Spaces devotional. Lindsey’s desire is to inspire and encourage women through honest dialogue about faith, family, and learning to love the life she’s been given. As a woman who has lost four babies to miscarriage, Lindsey loves helping others find God in the midst of heartache. Find Lindsey online at www.lindseymbell.com.

Photo by Hossein Soltanloo on Unsplash