Have you ever tried to run a race while carrying something heavy? It’s almost impossible to move forward when something is weighing you down. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Sometimes, our past—our mistakes, regrets, or even our successes—becomes a chain that holds us back from the freedom God has for us. This past weekend, Tamika Simmons shared in her message, “Layers of Healing: From the Garden to the Cross,” that part of healing is breaking free from the chains of our past and stepping into the new life God offers.
In John 5:8, Jesus told the man at Bethesda, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.” It seems like a simple command, but for a man who had been sick for 38 years, it was a monumental step. He had to leave behind the identity of being “the sick man by the pool” and step into something completely new. That meant letting go of the past, even if it was all he had known.
What’s your “mat”? Is there something in your past that you keep holding onto, even though it’s keeping you from moving forward? Maybe it’s a mistake you made, a hurt someone caused you, or even a success that you’re afraid to let go of because it feels like your only source of value.
Reflection Question: What is one thing from your past that you feel is holding you back? How does it impact your ability to trust God with your future?
“Just because you’ve been in a place for a long time doesn’t mean you have to stay there. God is calling you to get up, leave it behind, and walk into something new.” (Tamika Simmons, Layers of Healing) Jesus didn’t just heal the man’s body; He invited him into a new identity, free from the chains of his past. That’s what God wants for each of us.
In Genesis 2, we see the beginning of human history—perfect, unbroken, and whole. But when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, they introduced brokenness into the world. Ever since then, humanity has been trying to get back to that original state of wholeness. Healing is God’s way of restoring what was lost, but we have to be willing to let go of the things that keep us tied to the past.
Reflection Question: Are there any labels or identities you’ve been holding onto that no longer reflect who you are in Christ? How can you begin to see yourself as God sees you?
The man at Bethesda had every reason to stay where he was—he’d been there for almost four decades! But when Jesus called him to get up and walk, he had to make a choice: stay in the familiar or trust Jesus enough to step into the unknown. We all have moments like that—times when God asks us to leave something behind and move forward in faith.
“Father, I thank You for the freedom You offer me. Help me to let go of my past and the things that have kept me bound. Give me the courage to step into the new identity You have for me and to trust You with my future. I believe that You are doing a new thing in my life, and I choose to walk in the freedom You’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Don’t let your past define you. God is calling you to get up, pick up your mat, and walk into something new and beautiful.
Call to Action:
Consider sharing this devotional with someone who might need encouragement today. Check out the podcast replay of this message on your favorite podcast platform. Search for “CITCBA Insights” today. You can listen at churchinthecity.org/podcasts. And if you’re in the area, join us at Church in the City for one of our services. Our Saturday service at 10 a.m. has a Messianic theme, and our Sunday contemporary service starts at 10:45 a.m. Church in the City began as an outreach in the early 80s and became a church in 1991, dedicated to reflecting Christ in our community and the world.