Letting Go of Yesterday’s Mistakes

By Ken Robinson – The Week Ahead with God Podcast

We all make mistakes. Sometimes it’s a harsh word spoken in anger, a decision we regret, or a missed opportunity we keep replaying in our minds. Those moments can cling to us like heavy baggage, making it hard to move forward.

But here’s the good news: God never intended for us to stay stuck in yesterday.

The apostle Paul reminds us of this truth in Philippians 3:13–14: “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.”

Paul had plenty in his past that could have held him back. Before encountering Christ, he persecuted Christians. Those choices could have haunted him forever. But instead of living in regret, he made a decision — to let go of yesterday and press on toward the future God had for him. That same choice is open to you today.

Psalm 103:12 gives us a beautiful picture of God’s forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” If God has already forgiven you, why carry what He has already let go of?

Think of it like driving a car. If you only stare in the rear-view mirror, you’ll eventually crash, because you’re not looking ahead. The same is true spiritually. Regret can hold us hostage, but God’s grace sets us free to move forward.

So how do we practice letting go in real life? Here are three simple but powerful steps:

1. Confess it to God. Be honest with Him about where you’ve fallen short. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us.

2. Receive His forgiveness. Too often we confess but continue carrying guilt. Trust God’s Word. If He says you’re forgiven, you are forgiven.

3. Move forward in faith. Don’t let yesterday’s mistakes rob you of today’s joy. Walk in the freedom of God’s grace and let your life be a testimony of His mercy.

I’ve had to walk this journey myself. When I first became a Christian, I longed to find the right partner, but I went through several failed relationships. Looking back, I can see the mistakes I made, and at the time I felt unworthy of ever finding true love. But God knew better. Over time, He worked on my character, healed my heart, and eventually brought Wendy into my life. This year we celebrate 27 years of marriage and four wonderful children. Yet even within marriage, I’ve had to ask for forgiveness many times. That’s the ongoing beauty of God’s grace.

Letting go doesn’t mean pretending the past never happened. It means believing that God’s grace is bigger than your failures and choosing to step into the freedom He has already provided through the cross.

So don’t waste your life replaying the same scene from yesterday. Jesus carried that mistake to the cross, and when He said, “It is finished,” He meant it. Release the past, embrace His mercy, and move forward into the future He has prepared for you.

As you begin this new day, may you remember: God’s forgiveness is real, His mercy is new, and His grace is more than enough.