It sounds so obvious, but every day is a new beginning. The temptation can be to dwell in the past, to go over old memories, for them to dominate our priorities and decision making.

Of course our experiences shape our character and our choices. We give thanks for what is good, and lament over the pain and the grief. Yet it is so important that the darker experiences don’t obscure the good or restrict our capacity for hope. It is easy to dwell in the slough of despond, that it speaks of in Pilgrim’s Progress. In Bunyon’s Pilgrim’s Progress, this is characterised as a place of guilt and despair, a place that only God can rescue us, and bring us back onto the path, so we can move forward.

We might have regrets- times where we wonder if we made the best choice. We might have guilt- I wish I had not said that. We might wrestle with consequences of our actions, and the melancholy of wondering what if.

For me, the healthiest way of dealing with this, is just to give it all to God. I can’t change the past, but I can ask God to bless and bring healing to all who are hurting, and to help me to find peace, to forgive myself and to rest in His love.

In this season of anniversaries and sadnesses, I need to bring to Jesus all the loose ends of my life, and ask for the Holy Spirit to disintangle the mess, and to help me refocus, to learn from the past, but to have the courage to start again each day.

Jesus often withdrew from people to find solitude and pray. (Mark 1:35).We might choose to do that in different ways. For me the dawn is one of these sacred moments of peace. It is after the depth of darkness and feelings of fear and overwhelming lament and worry, that the rays of dawn are most welcome. The darkness is dispelled, and light, beauty and love re emerge. In truth, they have been there all along, but were just obscured by circumstances. And so with a lighter heart, the new day reminds us of fresh possibilities for growth and blessing, opportunities to venture out once more.

Gracious God, thank You for the gift of each new day. Help us to treasure it, as our life goes past so quickly. Lord Jesus, we give the past into Your hands, and pray for insight and healing, but help us not to live solely in the sadnesses of the past. Lift us out of the dark pit, and give us a new song to sing, that we might voice a melody of beauty, love and hope. Holy Spirit You know where we are in this moment, our personal histories of joy and sorrow, of trauma and questioning. Bring healing and peace in the way that only You can. And may each morning bring us word of your unfailing love, grace and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.