Looking Back Before Moving Forward
By Jenna Arnold
Director of Digital Outreach
When I was a little girl, Old Testament stories used to frustrate me. The Israelites just seemed so stupid. God would part the sea, rain down manna, or show up in some other miraculous way—and then, just a few verses later, they’d forget all about it and start complaining again. I couldn’t understand how they could be so quick to forget what God had done.
Now that I’m older, I get it.
Sometimes those “few verses later” moments in Scripture actually represent decades or even hundreds of years. But even in our own lives, we’re not much better. It’s shockingly easy to forget how God has answered prayers, opened doors, or carried us through. One hard moment pushes out the memory of a hundred blessings. That’s why it’s so important to pause and look back—not just at the big, life-changing miracles, but at the slow, steady faithfulness of God in our everyday lives.
For me, the end of a season always feels like a natural time to reflect, and this last school year has definitely been a tough one. I went into the school year knowing that having kids in elementary, middle, and high school would be a challenge, but I had no idea how exhausted I’d be by the end. Looking back now that it’s almost over, WOW, what a difference a year makes. Back in September, I had kids in tears—dreading school, struggling to make friends, and feeling completely out of place. I was worried enough to start considering drastic options like pulling them out. I felt helpless and unsure of what to do. There were so many prayers—some spoken aloud, some whispered in the dark, and some just carried silently in my heart.
Now that we’re at the end of the school year, I can see how much has changed. My daughter loves school and is actually sad that summer means time away from her friends. My younger son had a friend over last weekend and has found his people. He’s more confident, more himself. And all the things I didn’t like about this year—the three separate drop-offs and pick-ups, the endless hours in the car—ended up becoming gifts I didn’t expect. That drive time gave me precious one-on-one moments with each kid. And let’s be honest, when your child is strapped in next to you, they can’t escape—no matter how old they are. Sure, they may throw on headphones, but I know that trick. I got to really talk with them, hear what was going on in their lives, laugh with them, share about God’s love and faithfulness with them, and sometimes just sit together in comfortable silence.
As we head into summer, I want to encourage you to take a moment to do the same. Look back. Where were you in September? What were you worried about? What were you praying for? What things felt uncertain or heavy?
And now—how has God shown up?
Maybe it didn’t all turn out exactly how you hoped. Maybe some prayers still feel unanswered. But I think if you stop and really look, you’ll see little threads of grace woven through the year. Maybe it was unexpected help at the right time. A deepened relationship. A hard season that ended up strengthening you. God doesn’t always work the way we expect, but he’s always working.
Hebrews 10:23 reminds us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” And one of my favorite verses, especially when I’m reflecting on seasons, is Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
God’s faithfulness isn’t just something that happened in Bible times. It’s something we can still see—if we’re willing to stop and look for it. And when we take time to remember what God has done, it helps us trust him with whatever is coming next.
So, before you jump full force into summer plans and schedules and sunscreen and snacks, pause. Reflect. Remember. Write it down if that helps. Thank God for the ways he’s moved in your life this past year—even if some of them were quiet or subtle.
Seasons change, but God doesn’t. And remembering his faithfulness in the last one gives us confidence to trust him in the next.
Jenna