If your heart feels like it’s been through a shredder and your mind keeps circling those old hurts, you’re not alone. Whether it’s heartbreak, the loss of someone dear, a dream that crashed, or the pain of betrayal, grief is something every one of us faces on this side of heaven. The ache can make you want to stop—just plant your feet and live in the sorrows of yesterday. But friend, from both real-life experience and the truth of God’s Word, I can promise you: healing and growth are only found when you move forward.

That’s not about “getting over it.” In fact, one of the worst things anyone can say is, “Aren’t you past that yet?” or “Just move on.” Moving forward is far deeper—it’s about shifting your eyes from what’s lost to what God can do next. It’s about gently letting go, trusting that, no matter how broken you feel, there is still a good future for you. And as Christians, we have a Savior who meets us right in the mud and mess, invites us to stand, and walks with us toward healing.

Why Do We Get Stuck?

After a great loss, it’s natural to feel like sitting in your grief—sometimes, it feels safer. Maybe you’re scared of losing even more, or think you don’t deserve happiness again. Maybe you’ve come to see your pain as part of your identity. Or perhaps moving forward feels like a betrayal of the person or dream you’ve lost.

But let’s be real—there is wisdom in pausing for a time. Scripture says there’s “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). God doesn’t rush us. He sits with us in the pain. But He calls us forward eventually, because life with Him is never stagnant. The same God who weeps with us (John 11:35) also raises dead hopes, stories, and dreams.

The Biblical Invitation to Move Forward

The Bible is filled with stories of people who faced crushing loss, deep disappointment, and pain. But God never told them to pitch a tent in the valley.

Think of Moses standing on the edge of the Red Sea with a terrified people behind him. They begged to go back to Egypt, to the old familiar—even if it was miserable. But God said, “Tell the people to go forward” (Exodus 14:15). He didn’t part the waters until they stepped out in faith.

Or consider Ruth. Her whole world collapsed—husband dead, future uncertain. She could have turned back to her old life, but instead she moved forward in faith, following her mother-in-law, Naomi, into a new land. God met her there, and not only redeemed her pain, but made her part of the lineage of Jesus.

Jesus Himself grieved deeply, but even in the agony of the cross and the loss of friends, He kept moving in obedience and hope, confident the story wasn’t finished. That’s our example: not denying grief, but refusing to stay stuck there.

What Keeps Us From Moving Forward?

Let’s name some obstacles that keep us from healing and growth:

  • Fear that life “after” will never measure up to what was lost.

  • Guilt for even wanting to move forward—as if it dishonors our grief.

  • Resentment or anger toward those who “seem fine.”

  • A belief that our best days are behind us.

  • Comfort found in what’s familiar, even if it’s painful.

These feelings are real! But left unchecked, they keep us rooted in old wounds and miss out on God’s new mercies.

What Does It Mean to Move Forward?

Moving forward is not about erasing your pain, pretending everything is fine, or forgetting. It’s a process—sometimes slow, sometimes halting—of facing forward and trusting that God has more for you. It’s accepting that your story isn’t over just because a chapter ended.

It means:

  • Choosing moments of gratitude amid sadness.

  • Trying again—at relationships, dreams, or simply small steps each day.

  • Embracing hope, even when you don’t feel it.

  • Opening your life to new people, opportunities, or ministries.

  • Letting God turn pain into compassion and purpose.

  • Trusting that what’s gone is not all there is.

Yes, there will be backward steps. Yes, memories may bring fresh waves of grief. But forward motion—however messy—is the heartbeat of healing.

Practical Steps for Moving Forward

  1. Surrender Yesterday to God
    Every day, lay your hurts, memories, and regrets at the feet of Jesus. He invites us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Trust Him to hold your past and heal what you can’t fix.

  2. Invite God Into Your Future
    Pray for courage. Ask Him to show you one new thing to try, or one small way to trust Him today. Sometimes moving forward means simply making your bed or calling a friend—tiny acts of faith.

  3. Write a New Narrative
    God is not finished with your story. Open your Bible and fill your mind with promises of hope, like Jeremiah 29:11—“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Believe it, even when your feelings lag behind.

  4. Reach Out to Others
    Isolation magnifies pain. Healing often happens in community—share honestly with trusted friends, a counselor, or your church family. Let people walk with you, pray for you, and point you to God’s faithfulness. Sometimes, pouring into others’ needs can rekindle purpose in your own life.

  5. Forgive Where You Can
    Unforgiveness chains us to our pain. It’s hard, but ask God to help you release bitterness—even if you must do it a dozen times a day. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what happened, but it frees your heart to heal and see God’s bigger work.

  6. Try Something New
    Break your routine. Sign up for a new class, volunteer, take a walk in a fresh place, explore a hobby. New experiences wake us up to possibilities and help us see beyond what’s been lost.

  7. Celebrate Small Wins
    Growth isn’t always dramatic. Maybe today you smiled, or you made it through a gathering without crying. Maybe you felt hope rise for just five minutes. Celebrate it—these are signs you’re moving forward.

Why Moving Forward Matters

Staying stuck may feel safe, but it keeps your wounds raw. Over time, old pain can turn into bitterness, cynicism, or apathy. God wants more for you. Jesus said He came so we could have “life to the full” (John 10:10)—not just survival, but real, abundant living. You honor your loss not by living in perpetual mourning, but by allowing God to bring new joy, meaning, and relationships into your present.

When we move forward, we become living testimonies of God’s redemption. Others see His strength in our weakness and hope in our healing. And, wonder of wonders, sometimes we discover the very pain we wanted to escape is what God uses to bless someone else.

When Guilt or Fear Shows Up

You may worry that moving forward dishonors what you’ve lost, or fear getting hurt again. These feelings are common, but remember: honoring your past and embracing your future are not opposites. Both can exist. Imagine Jesus’s own scars—they were evidence of incredible pain, but they didn’t define His story. Instead, they pointed to the victory and hope that followed.

If fear keeps you paralyzed, echo the Psalmist’s prayer: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). Let the Lord gently coax you forward, step by step.

Trusting God With What’s Ahead

You may not see the path clearly from here. That’s okay. God rarely gives us the full story in advance. He simply asks us to trust Him, to step out in faith even when we can’t see the whole way. Recall the promise in Isaiah 43:18-19—“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

You may not perceive it yet, but trust that He is working. Each step forward, each act of courage or trust, is a declaration that God’s story for you is unfinished and His plans are still good.

A Prayer for Moving Forward

“Lord, you know how much I’ve hurt. You see every tear, every late-night question, every longing for what’s lost. I want to trust You with my future, but honestly, I don’t always know how. Help me take just one step today. Remind me that my story isn’t over and that You can make beauty even from ashes. Give me courage, faith, and a heart open to hope. Lead me forward in Your grace. Amen.”

Final Encouragement

If you’re standing at the crossroads—hurting, unsure, maybe exhausted—know that you don’t move forward alone. God walks with you, guides you, and cheers you on. It’s okay to grieve, to pause, to rest—but don’t stay in that place forever. Healing and growth await if you keep stepping forward.

There will be new joys, fresh hope, and deep purpose. Let the God who makes all things new gently lead you on. Your best days are not behind you. With Jesus, they are still to come.