May 3 – When You Feel Haunted by the Past

Isaiah 43:18–19 –
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" (NIV)

SITREP:
When the past keeps replaying in your mind, how do you move forward? The past may try to hold you captive, but God calls you to something new. Don’t let regret or painful memories define you—He is leading you into a future of hope and purpose.

This message came to Israel during their exile in Babylon—a season of national defeat, identity crisis, and the bitter reminder of what had been lost. Their past was heavy. Their homeland was gone. Their mistakes were many. And many believed their story had ended.

But through Isaiah, God declared otherwise. He reminded them of His past faithfulness—the Red Sea, the escape from Egypt, the provision in the wilderness—but He didn’t stop there. He told them to stop looking backward. Why? Because He was already doing something new. A fresh movement. A new victory. A way forward they hadn’t seen before.

• “Forget the former things…” – Don’t be imprisoned by old wounds.
• “…do not dwell on the past.” – Regret is not your assignment.
• “See, I am doing a new thing!” – The mission isn’t over. It’s shifting. Stay alert.

How This Shapes a Soldier’s Faith:
Every soldier walks with memories. Some are medals. Others are ghosts. Combat, loss, and personal missteps can leave a warrior anchored to the past. But Isaiah 43:18–19 is your orders to drop the dead weight and follow God’s lead into the next operation.

• “Forget the former things…”
• This isn’t about erasing your past—it’s about refusing to be shackled by it. Your past may shape you, but it doesn’t get to define your future.
• “Do not dwell on the past…”
• Soldiers know that reliving a bad decision in battle can cost you the next move. Spiritually, dwelling on past failures keeps you from advancing in faith.
• “See, I am doing a new thing!”
• God’s not just reviving old victories—He’s rolling out new ones. Stay mission-ready. Look for His movement. He’s not recycling your past—He’s rewriting your future.

If you feel stuck—haunted by a decision, overwhelmed by loss, or paralyzed by shame—this verse is your clearance to move forward. You’re not marching backward. The Commander is already out front.

ENDEX:
You are not the sum of your mistakes or the shadows behind you. Isaiah 43:18–19 is a call to release what was and engage with what God is building now.

Don’t miss the new thing God is doing because your eyes are locked on yesterday. Let go of the old orders. New mission. New direction.

Eyes up. Heart steady. Forward march.

AAR (After Action Review):
Has God ever led you out of a season where you were stuck in the past—regret, failure, or pain—and into something new? Share how He helped you release what was behind and step forward in faith. Your breakthrough might be the map someone else needs to navigate their own turning point.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.