What you see is what you get—but is it really? Every person you meet carries a past, a history filled with moments that shaped them, for better or worse. Some of those moments are beautiful, some are painful, and many are never spoken of. Yet, they all weave together to create the person standing before you today.
It’s easy to judge someone at face value. We do it all the time—sometimes without even realizing it. We see the way someone talks, the way they dress, the choices they make, and we form an opinion. But what if we took a step back and asked, What transformed this person? What battles have they fought? What lessons have they learned?
The Past Doesn’t Define Us—It Shapes Us
We all have things in our past that we aren’t proud of. I know I do. There were times when I made the wrong choices, hurt people I cared about, or let my own fears hold me back, and that can be a bit of an understatement. But hindsight is a powerful thing. When we acknowledge our past mistakes, seek forgiveness, and allow God to work within us, He creates something new. He takes our brokenness and builds a person we can be proud of.
God doesn’t erase our past—He redeems it. Every experience, whether good or bad, becomes part of the testimony that shapes our future. The hard part? Accepting that not everyone will understand our journey. And that’s okay. Our past is not an open book for every curious mind; it’s a sacred story of transformation that we share only with those who have earned the right to hear it, and those people will be very evident in your life. They’ll be the ones always standing beside you no matter what you’ve thrown at them.
Recognizing the Right People in Your Life
One of the greatest blessings God gives us is the people He allows into our lives. Some will uplift us, challenge us, and walk alongside us as we grow. Others, however, will try to pull us back into the places we’ve worked so hard to leave behind. The wisdom lies in knowing the difference.
Hold on tightly to those who bring out the best in you—who see not just who you were, but who you are becoming. Let go of those who refuse to grow, those who remain trapped in their past mistakes and want to keep you there with them. It’s not cruel; it’s necessary. Growth requires us to surround ourselves with people who inspire and encourage us, not those who keep us stagnant.
Your Story is Meant to Inspire, Not Shame You
In a world obsessed with social media, where people feel entitled to know every detail of someone’s life, it can be hard to maintain privacy. But here’s the truth: You don’t owe anyone your past. You don’t have to justify the person you’ve become or explain every chapter of your story to people who only want to judge it, but we must also be cognizant that it exists and some people will be looking for a way to strip away every ounce of hard work we put into our transformation. I’ve seen it, and experienced it.
What matters is who you are today. What matters is that you’ve learned, grown, and allowed God to shape you into someone better. Your story—every struggle, every victory—has the power to inspire others. Some people will take what they’ve been through and remain stuck. Others will let God use their past to launch them into a brighter future.
Which person will you choose to be?
Let God Write the Next Chapter
The past is written, but the future is still unfolding. Every day is another page, another opportunity to live out the purpose God has placed in your heart. Let Him guide your path. Let Him take your story—messy, beautiful, complicated—and turn it into something that speaks life into others.
Because no matter where you’ve been, or how old you are, your story isn’t over yet. And it’s never too late to become the person you were meant to be.
Troy P Zehnder 