Written by Reni Weixler MA, LPC, CPC
Many Christians deeply value the call to move forward in faith. One verse that’s often quoted when talking about the past is Philippians 3:13-14:
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself 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.” — Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Some interpret this verse as a call to avoid looking back—especially at painful memories or past trauma. But the reality is, trauma is complex. It can feel overwhelming, uncomfortable, or even too messy to face. That emotional weight can influence how people understand Philippians 3:13–14, leading them to believe that healing means forgetting rather than processing.
The belief is that revisiting the past keeps us stuck and prevents us from living into our future in Christ. But is that really what this scripture is saying?
Let’s unpack this together.
When Paul wrote about “forgetting what is behind,” he was referring to his religious credentials, past efforts to earn righteousness through the law, and even his past sins. He was saying, in essence, “My past doesn’t define me anymore—Christ does.”
This was a statement about identity and direction, not a command to ignore wounds or bury the past. It’s about not letting former things—whether good or bad—anchor us in shame or pride. Instead, we are called to run freely and fully toward the hope we have in Jesus.
There’s a big difference between being stuck in the past and intentionally working through it. Trauma doesn’t just go away because we want it to. It lingers in how we relate to others, how we see ourselves, and how we experience God.
Jesus often asked people probing questions about their pain. He wept with Mary and Martha. He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. Healing came not by avoiding pain, but by bringing it into the light with compassion and truth.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus tends to wounds—both physical and emotional. He never tells people to “just move on” from their suffering. Instead, He draws near (Psalm 34:18), offers rest (Matthew 11:28), and restores dignity.
This tender approach of Jesus—meeting people in their pain and offering healing—reminds us that transformation doesn’t bypass our wounds; it often begins there. Rather than ignoring the weight we carry, Scripture shows us a God who enters into our brokenness with compassion and invites us to wholeness.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
It’s in this spirit that Paul speaks of renewal in Romans 12:2—a renewal that isn’t shallow or quick, but rooted in deep inner work and grace-filled restoration.
Transformation includes renewal. And renewal—true, lasting renewal—often comes when we dare to tend to the places within us that are hurting.
In Romans 12:2, Paul invites believers to experience transformation through the renewing of the mind. This isn’t just about changing our thoughts on the surface. It’s about allowing the Spirit to reshape our beliefs, shift old patterns, and release the burdens we’ve carried, often quietly, for years.
That’s where therapy can be a sacred space.
Therapy offers us a chance to name the pain that has shaped us and bring it into the light. It gives us room to explore our stories—not to dwell in the past, but to understand how unhealed wounds have influenced our thinking, our relationships, and our sense of identity. This deep emotional work is not separate from our spiritual lives—it’s part of it.
Our emotional health and spiritual health are intimately connected. When we invite God into the therapeutic process, we begin to exchange lies for truth, shame for grace, and fear for freedom. We begin to see ourselves more clearly—as God sees us.
Philippians 3 reminds us to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. But this doesn’t mean ignoring our pain or pretending our past doesn’t matter. Instead, it means doing the work of healing so that we’re no longer weighed down by it. Therapy becomes one way we open our hands, surrender our burdens, and press on toward the life God is calling us to live—wholeheartedly, unbound, and renewed.
Transformation is not a quick fix; it is a process of becoming. And healing, through therapy and through Christ, is part of that process. Healing is deeply biblical and beautifully Christlike.
Reni Weixler is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Professional Coach with a Master’s in Counseling from Biblical Seminary. She brings deep expertise in trauma work, individual therapy, and couples counseling. Reni is passionate about helping people experience healing and transformation through both clinical insight and the hope found in Christ, walking with clients as they align their emotional, relational, and spiritual lives.
Reni Weixler MA, LPC, CPC Www.Weixlercounseling.com
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