God Can Help You Put It Behind You

Joseph’s life was filled with experiences that could have left him trapped in bitterness.

His brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He was falsely accused, imprisoned, and forgotten by people he had helped. Yet God sustained Joseph, elevated him, and allowed him to become fruitful in the same land where he had suffered.

When Joseph’s first son was born, he named him Manasseh, meaning, “God hath made me forget.”

This did not mean that Joseph could no longer remember what had happened. It meant that God had freed him from allowing those experiences to control his thoughts, determine his future, or hinder his relationship with Him.

Manasseh would eventually face his own opportunity to live out the meaning of his name. When Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, he placed the greater blessing upon the younger Ephraim. Manasseh could have allowed disappointment and feelings of being overlooked to fill his heart.

Instead, his name served as a reminder that God could help him release what he could not change.

We may carry memories of people who hurt us, opportunities we believe we missed, or failures we wish we could undo. When we continually dwell on those experiences, bitterness and unforgiveness can begin to hinder our prayer, worship, and spiritual growth.

We cannot always put the past behind us through our own strength. But when we surrender our hearts to God, He can help us forgive, overcome, and move forward.

The memory may remain, but it no longer has to control us. God can free our minds from the pain of what happened so we can become everything He has called us to be.

Scripture: Genesis 41:51