A Painful Past: Healing and Moving Forward

So many of God’s people have events in their pasts that are painful and hard to get over. This pain might have come because of their own choices or ways they have been hurt or victimized by others. No matter the reason, strugglers can find it hard to draw near to God when their past has shame in it. It can be harder still to believe that God wants to draw near to them when they feel like what happened left them broken, scarred, or dirty. When the past casts its dark shadow over people’s lives, how do we represent the God who comes close? This breakout will equip counselors and pastors to walk with people and help them grow in understanding their past and their story biblically. We will consider what God has to say about the past, the present, and the future—and all that he has done to guarantee that a painful past does not determine or define people’s lives.