Award-winning Publishers Weekly Best-selling Author

Songs from the Heart – Not Giving Up

by | Jan 13, 2025 | , | From My Playlist | 0 comments

Luke thrashed about trying to wake from his dream stupor. His chest was heavy like a loaded barbell thrust upon him, making it almost impossible to breathe. What is that noise?

Luke bolted upright in his bed. Smoke filled his lungs and he gasped for air. Flames danced before his clouded eyes. The fire alarm pierced the night. He turned to wake his wife and found an empty bed.

“Honey, where are you?” His words were lost in the dense smoke.

Stumbling out of bed, Luke crawled to the door and out into the hallway, heeding his mother’s warning. “Stay low in case of fire. Smoke rises.”

Flames erupted around him, singeing the hairs on his arms. He called out again.

“Help,” she said.

He turned toward her voice, but couldn’t find her. “Where are you?”

“Over here.” Flames lit the hall, illuminating the staircase. Her fingers gripped one of the wooden spindles. The railing had given away and she held to the one remaining lifeline.

“Hold on,” Luke said, grabbing her hand. “Hang on tight and don’t look down.” He knew her fear of heights would paralyze her if she did.

She turned her head.

“Don’t!”

Too late. Her fingers slipped. Her scream deafened the night.

Lot’s wife couldn’t help herself. Her town was on fire, she was fleeing to safety, but she had to turn around and look back even when warned against it. What could it hurt?

She paid the cost with her life.

Do we get stuck in the past? Perhaps we’ve made bad decisions that have cost us (or others close to us) big time. Or we’ve said something to a loved one that we regret. Or maybe our spouse has left the marriage and the hurt has us locked in its vice grip.

Does any of these sound familiar? What can we learn from Lot’s wife?

Obey directions. Lot and his family were told to flee and not look back. Why did she have to sneak a peek? It’s the same reason a child has to test a hot burner. It’s human nature. When we’re told not to do something we have to try it, don’t we? Sometimes disobedience can have catastrophic repercussions. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt. What will it take for us to just obey? Let’s remember that the next time we head down the wrong path.

Keep focused. The city of Sodom and Gomorrah was under fire. I’m sure everyone was screaming, and running in circles. Lot’s wife lost her focus and turned back to see what was happening. Are there times when we’re so busy that we lose our focus? Maybe we forget the real reason for taking on a certain project. Or we give a little piece of ourselves to too much and do a haphazard job. How about we focus on one or two things and keep our eyes ahead?

Let go. Lot’s wife couldn’t let go of the past. A lot had happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. It was time for them to get out and move on. Have we allowed our hurt to turn into bitterness? Do we hold on to it so others would feel sorry for us? Do we continually ask why? Unfortunately, I’m sure we would have to admit to being guilty of this from time to time. I’ve once heard it said, “Never put a question mark where God has put a period.” I love this. It’s time to move on and let go. Period.

However, in saying all of the above, is looking back always bad?

No, not if we’re looking back so we can move forward. pathway

We learn from our mistakes and see a clearer perspective of how God has directed our path at the times when we groped in the dark. When we’re in the middle of difficulties, we can’t see or think straight. We go around in circles, losing our focus. When God has brought us through, we can look back and learn from our experiences. It gives us a better perspective and makes us stronger. This is the best time to look back.

Starting a new year is also a good time to ponder over the previous 12 months and decide whether or not we’re going to grow from everything that happened. To do that, we need to look back, turn around and see what we can learn from the past. But, we can’t get stuck there.

When we move ahead we have to look back, trusting God knows best. (Click to Tweet)

What about you? Did you have a rough 2024? Do you need to look back to move ahead? Share your thoughts on my blog. I would love to hear from you.

Psalm 25:1 (NIV)

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

Not Giving Up (by Amy Grant)

Are there times you feel like giving up? This song says it all. Let’s keep going.

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