One time, I made a big mistake at work.
I misinterpreted my instructions over the phone (this is why in-person is always best lol). I launched something we had been working on that was nowhere near ready to be seen yet. My phone immediately started ringing off the hook.
Thanks to modern technology, my error was able to be corrected quickly. But my reputation? Not as quickly.
While some people were able to joke with me later on about the incident, many others in my office were not. Every time I would get a “win” at work or do something positive, there were a few jeers and comments about,
“Yeah but remember when you launched that too early?”
It felt like no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to escape my mistake.
Maybe some of you feel that way in life.
Maybe you’re newer to this whole Christian thing.
Maybe you’ve been at this for years.
You’re trying to live differently, to reflect outwardly the inward change that has happened in your heart, but those around you aren’t exactly vibing with it.
You have family, friends, coworkers, or even people from your life before knowing Jesus that say things like,
“I liked you better before this Jesus thing.” or “You used to be more fun.” or “You’re so different, I miss the old you!”
This is a hard place to be. You’re trying to live out your new identity but all everyone around you seems to want is your old one. I want to remind you of something today:
God redeems what others remember.
Your past is a very important part of your story.
So many of us in this situation want to scream at others to forget the old version, to stop bringing up the past or our “B.C. Era” ( Before Christ). We feel as though these ghosts of our past will forever haunt and halt our future as a Christian.
But because of Jesus, this is not the case.
Your past is not proof of failure; it is evidence of grace.
You no longer have a shameful story, but a testimony.
A testimony is the story of who you were before Jesus and who you are after Him - a true Before and After transformation.
But a testimony is only a testimony when it has the before. That is where the glory is. The beauty and grace of Jesus is found where He reaches into our old ways and says, “I have more for you, there is another way. Let me show you.”
People may cling to who we used to be, to what we used to do. But when you give your life to Jesus, you no longer have to.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
People not adjusting to your transformation does not mean God hasn’t transformed you.
YOU are the one who must determine how much you get out of your faith relationship, not others. Do not let others’ discomfort or lack of understanding convince you that this change in your heart isn’t real.
Because it is, and it is so, so special.
Your before-Christ story explains where you came from.
Your after-Christ life reveals where God is taking you.
Walk boldly. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay the course. We never walk one step of this journey alone.
This week on The True North Podcast…
Have you ever asked, "How can I be new in Christ if people keep reminding me of who I used to be?"
In this episode of we’re getting real about walking in your new identity in Christ when shame, other people, and memories of your past try to pull you backward. If you’ve ever felt disqualified, stuck between your before Jesus life and your after Jesus calling, or questioned whether real change has actually happened—this conversation is for you.
We unpack the difference between shame and conviction, why shame attacks identity, and what Scripture actually means when it says you are a new creation in Christ. You’ll learn why people often cling to old versions of you, why delayed trust doesn’t equal delayed transformation, and how godly accountability is meant to protect growth—not imprison you in your past.
This episode covers:
Why your past doesn’t disqualify your calling
How to respond when others won’t let your old life go
When accountability becomes unhealthy and how to recognize it
How to walk forward without constantly revisiting your past
If shame keeps reintroducing your old self, this episode will remind you: your past is evidence of grace, not proof of failure. Your testimony didn’t end before Christ—it points to where God is taking you now.
Have a great rest of your week and thanks for being here!
Love, Mykah (and Nimbus)
