Three Steps to Get Rid of the “Yes, buts”

Here it is, the end of December, and I’m only now getting around to wishing you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It’s kind of crazy, while the missiles were flying overhead, I found the time to write – mostly because I didn’t want you worrying about me. But now that there is a so-called “peace fire,” things have quieted down in the north – although the Houthis are sending missiles toward the middle and south of the country. It seems like there’s always a “but” to every good thing.

• A peace fire, but Israel is still attacking to protect itself, and terrorists are still trying to infiltrate the borders
• Life is good in Haifa, but others are suffering
• All this talk about a hostage deal, but when will it be reality?
• I had a blessed Christmas, but what does the New Year hold?

Happy (?) New Year

It’s kind of hard to wish you a “Happy” New Year when there is no real peace on earth, and goodwill toward men. We are watching entrenched regimes collapse along with European governments, the war in Israel isn’t really any closer to an end than it was when it started, and the US is facing changes that some fear, and others welcome. Most of us aren’t really touched by all of the above, though it is disturbing. But local economies, and our own personal situations – you know what I mean – the things we don’t share, the things we don’t talk about.

I’ve caught myself thinking, it’s silly to wish people a “Happy New Year”; things have only gone downhill since the pandemic. Has anyone else out there thought that?

Focusing on God and His promises, we realize that He is the source of any beauty we have. He is our peace, strength, and life. When people see God’s promises fulfilled in us, they glorify and praise Him, and they rejoice with us. But when we focus on ourselves or the evil around us, those “yes but” thoughts creep in. God’s promises seem far off with their fulfillment in a distant future that doesn’t touch the now.

Fighting the Yes buts

While reading in Philippians recently, the Lord reminded me of three very simple steps for fighting the yes buts. By following them, all of us can look forward to a blessed new year with real hope. The first two steps are in Philippians 3:7-14. (Note: I believe the “one thing” Paul is referring to is that which he is pursuing, not how he will pursue it, which are two steps to achieve the “one thing.”)

Paul had yes but moments too

In verses 7–14, Paul talks about his ultimate goal and desire. He considers anything gained in life as a loss if it had nothing to do with Jesus, comparing it to what he hopes to gain in Jesus (verse 8). Those promises are wonderful, culminating in becoming like Jesus and spending eternity with Him.

But verses 12-14 are the words we need to hear in the “yes but” moments of our lives:

¹²Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward [Greek: stretch toward, also translated as ‘pressing on’] to what is ahead ¹⁴I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14

Paul is saying, “I’m not there yet. I know I still need to change. But I won’t let my past or current failures hold me back.” He has to do two things though: First, he must choose to forget the past, and second, he will press on for the goal. He KNOWS that Jesus will never give up on him, so now he responds in kind – he will not give up on Jesus.

We need to do both things to overcome the “Yes but” moments.

Step 1: Forgetting what is behind

Forgetting is hard, especially when memories and doubts pop up at the oddest moments. Other times, our thoughts condemn and judge us, and we wonder, “Did I really repent?” or “Am I really forgiven?” We must stop looking back, CHOOSE to forget, and focus on Jesus. That’s step one.

Many of you know me and have walked with me through some of the more difficult times of my life. I know it’s not each to let go of the past. It’s even harder if there are people (or spiritual forces) reminding us, just when we are starting to feel secure in the Lord. If you’ve read my book, you know that I’ve had to make some hard choices, and among them is to stop looking back and dwelling on the past. God has used every single event of my past to make me into the person I am now. He has turned what the evil one meant for bad into good. How dare I let the past chain me down? How dare I look back and risk turning into a pillar of salt?

But choosing to forget is not enough.

Step 2: Stretching forward or pressing on

Step two is different. It’s not just about looking to Jesus, it is about pressing on. It is about putting one foot in front of the other and moving FORWARD. We refuse to let the past determine our future and actively follow Jesus.

I picture this as taking every bit of our strength with determination. We won’t let anything stop us. It’s kind of like the cane I have to use these days. I don’t like my cane. It is a nuisance most of the time. But when I need it, I need it! If that is what it takes for me to move ahead, to get one foot in front of the other, then I’ll use it. Spiritually, for us, that means grabbing ahold of Jesus, not letting go, and moving forward in faith – trusting Him. We are determined not to turn back and we will move forward.

Step 3: Remember, God’s mercies are new every day

It’s easy to talk about faith and trust, but yeah, it can be hard. It starts with believing. But what do we believe? Is our reality the final word or is God’s WORD the final word?

Perhaps the best way to enter this New Year is with Step 3. We have to forget what is behind, and must press on, but it is toward God. We do all that by remembering His promises, and among them is this jewel:

22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:22-23

You will recall that Lamentations is a prayer and a cry of weeping of Jeremiah the prophet. It is his response to watching God’s judgment fall on the faithless people of Israel. He is suffering, and is horrified by the suffering of the people, but he reminds himself of the one thing that gives him hope in the midst of national suffering. If this was a comfort to Jeremiah watching faithless Israel suffer, how much more should these verses comfort those who have dozens of other assurances of God’s love through Jesus? Yes, these verses were true then and remain true now.

The key to a blessed New Year without the “yes but”

As we enter the New Year, let’s remember that God doesn’t promise happiness in everything, but we know from many other passages that there is great blessing for those who belong to Him (Romans 8:28). Choose to forget, let go, of the past – all of it. Press on to follow Jesus. All that you can achieve in this life is so temporary. Press on, aiming for an eternity with the lover of our souls, our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.  

And thirdly, remember, God’s mercies are new every morning. You may have messed up yesterday, but God is with you with new mercy for today, to help you press on in Him. He is faithful. He will do it! With these thoughts, may we all thank God for His blessings in the past year and welcome the new year because God’s grace will be new for every day of every new year.