The Best Is Still Ahead of You
The life you’re hoping for isn’t behind you… it’s waiting in front of you.
The Question We All Want to Ask
My daughters have gone through that transition into junior high recently…
And I’ve heard this question more than once:
“Dad… can I just go back to elementary school?”
And honestly?
Part of me wants to say yes.
Because those days were:
simpler
easier
lighter
No pressure.
No complications.
Just life as it used to be.
And if we’re being honest…
We all have moments like that.
Moments where we wish we could go back.
The Pull of the Past
There’s something powerful about the past.
It holds:
memories
comfort
happiness
familiarity
And when life gets hard…
It’s easy to start believing:
“That was the best it’s ever going to be.”
But that belief…
Can quietly hold you back.
The Warning We Often Miss
There’s a story in scripture about Lot’s wife.
As she was leaving a place she was commanded to leave behind…
She looked back.
But it wasn’t just a glance.
As taught in the transcript:
She looked back longingly.
Her heart was still there.
Her attachment to the past…
Outweighed her faith in the future.
The Real Struggle
Let’s be honest.
This is hard.
Especially when:
you’ve lost something meaningful
something good has ended
life hasn’t turned out how you expected
It’s easy to feel like:
“Nothing ahead could be as good as what I had.”
But that thought…
Is exactly where faith is tested.
The Truth About Faith
Here’s a powerful truth from the transcript:
Faith is always pointed toward the future.
Not the past.
Not what was.
But what can be.
And when we get stuck looking backward…
We stop moving forward.
The Wilderness We Get Stuck In
Think about the children of Israel.
They left Egypt physically…
But mentally?
They never really left.
They kept looking back.
Comparing.
Complaining.
And because of that…
They wandered for 40 years.
Not because God couldn’t deliver them…
But because they couldn’t believe He would.
The Honest Prayer We All Need
There’s a moment in scripture where a father says:
“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” — Mark 9:24
That might be one of the most honest prayers you can offer.
Because sometimes…
You want to believe.
You’re just not sure how yet.
The Pattern We Can Trust
Through Jesus Christ, we’re given a promise:
That what lies ahead…
Can be better than what’s behind.
Not easier.
Not always immediate.
But better.
Anchoring Quote
“Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.” — Jeffrey R. Holland
Practical Reflection
Take a moment and ask yourself:
Where am I looking backward right now?
a relationship?
a season of life?
a version of myself?
Now ask:
Am I trusting that something better could still be ahead?
Today’s Daily Challenge
Do one simple thing today:
Shift your focus forward.
Set one small goal
Take one step ahead
Choose one thought rooted in hope
And if it’s hard…
Pray this:
“Help me believe.”
Closing
The past can teach you.
But it was never meant to hold you.
Because your story isn’t finished.
Your best moments aren’t behind you.
And your happiness isn’t something you’ve already used up.
It’s still coming.
So don’t stay stuck.
Don’t keep looking back.
And don’t lose faith in what’s ahead.
Because with God…
The best is still to come.
🔗 https://joshdowns.com/daily-devotionals
🔗 https://joshdowns.com/come-follow-me-for-teens