Moving forward is harder than it sounds. You know logically that staying stuck doesn’t help. You understand intellectually that dwelling on the past won’t change it. But knowing you should move forward and actually being able to do it are two completely different things.
Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates that approximately 70% of people feel stuck in at least one major area of their lives. Career, relationships, personal growth, spiritual life.
Something is keeping them paralyzed, unable to move toward what they know they need to do.
The psychological phenomenon of “rumination,” according to studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, shows that people spend an average of 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re currently doing, often dwelling on past mistakes or future anxieties.
You can’t move forward while constantly looking backward. You can’t step into your future while clinging to your past. But letting go feels impossible when what’s behind you is familiar, even if it’s painful, and what’s ahead is uncertain.
Here’s what changes everything: moving forward isn’t about your strength. It’s about trusting that God goes before you, that He’s already in your future preparing the way.
Bible Verses About Moving Forward
1. Philippians 3:13-14 – Forgetting What Is Behind and Straining Toward What Is Ahead
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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2. Isaiah 43:18-19 – Forget the Former Things; See, I Am Doing a New Thing
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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
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3. Jeremiah 29:11 – Plans to Give You Hope and a Future
“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.”
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4. Luke 9:62 – No One Who Puts a Hand to the Plow and Looks Back
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
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5. Proverbs 4:25 – Let Your Eyes Look Straight Ahead
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
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6. Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord Goes Before You
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
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7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – The Old Has Gone, the New Is Here
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
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8. Hebrews 12:1 – Let Us Throw Off Everything That Hinders
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
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9. Isaiah 42:9 – New Things I Declare
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.
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10. Joshua 1:9 – Be Strong and Courageous
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
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11. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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12. Lamentations 3:22-23 – His Compassions Never Fail
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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13. Psalm 37:23 – The Lord Makes Firm the Steps
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.
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14. Romans 8:28 – God Works for the Good
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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15. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There Is a Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
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16. Isaiah 40:31 – Those Who Hope in the Lord Will Renew Their Strength
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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17. Psalm 32:8 – I Will Instruct You and Teach You
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
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18. Revelation 21:5 – I Am Making Everything New
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
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19. Ephesians 4:22-24 – Put Off Your Old Self
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
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20. Psalm 30:5 – Weeping May Stay for the Night
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
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21. Joel 2:25 – I Will Repay You for the Years
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.
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22. Romans 12:2 – Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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23. 1 Corinthians 13:11 – When I Became a Man, I Put the Ways of Childhood Behind Me
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
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24. Psalm 143:8 – Show Me the Way I Should Go
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
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25. Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear, for I Am With You
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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26. Galatians 6:9 – Let Us Not Become Weary in Doing Good
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
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27. Philippians 4:13 – I Can Do All This Through Him
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
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28. Psalm 121:1-2 – My Help Comes From the Lord
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
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29. 2 Chronicles 15:7 – Be Strong and Do Not Give Up
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
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30. Colossians 3:2 – Set Your Minds on Things Above
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
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31. Psalm 27:14 – Wait for the Lord; Be Strong
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
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32. Isaiah 46:4 – Even to Your Old Age, I Am He
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
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33. Hebrews 10:36 – You Need to Persevere
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
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34. 1 John 2:17 – The World and Its Desires Pass Away
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
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35. Exodus 14:14 – The Lord Will Fight for You
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
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Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Moving Forward
Moving forward requires intentionally releasing what’s behind you. Paul’s language is deliberate: “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Forgetting doesn’t mean you pretend the past didn’t happen. It means you refuse to let it define your present or dictate your future.
God repeatedly tells His people to stop dwelling on the former things because He’s doing something new. The problem is that old things are familiar. New things are uncertain. Moving forward means trading the certainty of known pain for the uncertainty of potential growth.
The promise is that God goes before you. He’s already in your future, preparing the way. He makes paths straight. He directs your steps. Moving forward isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about trusting the One who does.
Every new morning brings fresh mercies. God doesn’t ask you to move forward in yesterday’s strength. He gives you what you need for today’s step. And when you take that step, He’ll provide strength for the next one. Moving forward happens one day, one choice, one step at a time.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know I need to move forward, but I feel paralyzed.
I’m stuck dwelling on past mistakes. Replaying what I should have done differently. Clinging to what’s familiar even though it’s no longer serving me. I know logically that I can’t move toward my future while holding onto my past, but letting go terrifies me.
Your Word tells me to forget what’s behind and strain toward what’s ahead. To stop dwelling on former things because You’re doing something new. Help me to actually do that. Give me the courage to release what I need to let go of and the strength to step into what You have ahead.
Thank You that You go before me. That You’re already in my future, preparing the way. That I don’t have to have everything figured out because You’re directing my steps. Help me to trust You enough to move forward even when I can’t see the entire path.
Renew my strength. Make my paths straight. Show me the way I should go. Give me fresh mercies for today and courage to take the next step.
I’m choosing to stop looking backward and start moving forward, trusting that You’re leading me toward something better than what I’m leaving behind.
In Jesus’ Guiding Name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.