Redeeming Your Egypt: How to Get Over Your Past

Anniversary dates. Driving by the clinic. Seeing the white crosses displayed at a church. For the women I counsel who have abortion in their past, there are so many things that bring the horror of abortion back to pierce their hearts once again. 

It may not be abortion for you. It may be the location of a car accident that took someone’s life. It may be another painful memory. A sight, a word, or a date can elicit a reaction in us that takes us catapulting back to the abyss of grief or shame. 

It doesn’t have to be that way. God can redeem even those places or things that bring painful reminders of our past. He can make those reminders a reason to celebrate rather than a reason to mourn. Impossible? He did it for the Israelites when He told them, “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt” (Haggai 2:5). 

EGYPT! Why was God talking to them about Egypt? Just the thought of that place brought back dark emotions. Memories of slavery, oppression, toil, and tears. They had no good thoughts about Egypt. 

Yet God reminded them in that same verse that Egypt represented more than just their pain. Look back at the verse again. “I covenanted with you.” A covenant is a promise. God was reminding them of His promises. God keeps His promises, dear one. He is faithful. In the midst of those painful memories, the Israelites were being reminded that God is faithful, and that He had a plan for them. 

God has a plan for you, too. The second half of Haggai 2:5 says, “And my spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” God doesn’t want those painful memories to stir up fear or grief. He wants those reminders to bring to us to the realization of the glorious redemption He has provided for us. He is reminding us that His spirit is alive in us, freeing us from the past, giving us new life through the shed blood of Jesus. He is reminding us that He promises to always be with us, walking with us even in those difficult places. 

“My spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” What a marvelous promise when we look at our own Egypt. Our God walks with us through all of our difficult places.

I often go to a particular place that used to stir up ugly memories. But do you know what? It is my absolutely favorite place now. It symbolizes to me the glorious salvation I have received, the great rescue that my Savior provided for me because He loves me so much. It reminds me that I am not who I used to be. I can’t be in that place now without my heart swelling in worship and thanksgiving. God redeemed my Egypt and made it a glorious place for me. 

Where is your Egypt? Can you look at it through the lens of His salvation and faithfulness? Can you grasp the promise of His presence as you walk through it? Your Egypt doesn’t have to bring grief. Let it bring a celebration of His rescue, a trust in His promises, and a glory in His presence that will never leave us. 

“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in His salvation” (Psalm 35:9). Oh, yes! I rejoice. I delight. And I celebrate. Especially when I see my Egypt. 

*I would like to give credit to Jennifer Rothschild for the interpretation of the verse Haggai 2:5. Although this post is my original writing, Jennifer taught the idea of “rebranding” our Egypt in her study Take Courage: a study of Haggai. I have done several of her Bible studies and highly recommend them!