Remembering Lot’s Wife

By Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew

Have you ever felt stuck? Like you know God is calling you to move forward into something new, better, , more fulfilling, but part of you just can’t let go of what’s behind? You want to take the step, but your heart keeps pulling you back, to the past, to what you know, even if it’s not good for you anymore.

If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. The Bible gives us a heartbreaking, powerful example in the story of Lot’s wife. It’s a moment so brief, yet so full of meaning, that it still echoes through time and speaks directly to our souls.

In Genesis 19:26, it says, “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Just like that. Her story is a cautionary tale, but it’s also a mirror. One that shows us the cost of looking back when God says move forward.

Let’s pause here for a moment. What really happened?

God was destroying the city of Sodom because of its wickedness. Lot and his family were told to escape, run for their lives, and not look back. Yet, Lot’s wife looked back. In that moment, she became frozen, yes she literally turned into a pillar of salt. Why? Because her heart wasn’t fully ready to let go. She was holding on to something behind her, and it cost her everything.

That moment feels so relatable, doesn’t it? Maybe you aren’t facing destruction like Sodom’s, but life still calls us to move on – to leave behind old patterns, relationships, practices, or fears. Yet part of us is still looking back, nostalgic for what was, afraid of what might be, or unsure if we can really step into the new.

The Danger of Looking Back

The Bible’s warning is clear. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says, “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…” This is a powerful call to focus forward, not backward.

When we look back, we risk becoming frozen – unable to move forward, stuck in fear, regret, or comfort zones that hold us captive. Lot’s wife’s fate symbolizes how looking back can trap us in the past.

Sometimes, we look back because it feels safer. The past, even if painful or toxic, is familiar. The unknown future is scary. Maybe we look back to people who hurt us but who we miss, or to dreams we gave up on. Or maybe we look back because we can’t forgive or forget.

But God’s message is different. In Isaiah 43:18-19, He says, “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?” God is inviting us to leave the past behind and embrace the new things He is doing.

Why We Hold On, and How to Let Go

Why do we hold on? Because the past has roots in our identity. It shapes who we think we are. Sometimes it’s painful roots, comfortable roots and familiar routines, even if they aren’t good for us.But the truth is, our identity is not in the past. It’s in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” You’re not who you used to be. You’re not defined by past mistakes or failures, or even by the places you came from. God’s call is clear: Move forward.

It doesn’t mean you erase your history. It means you don’t live there anymore. You carry your lessons, your growth, your scars, but you don’t let them keep you stuck.

How to Keep Moving Forward Without Looking Back

So how do we do it? How do we stop being like Lot’s wife and start walking confidently into the new things God has for us?

1. Trust God’s plan for your future.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “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 a future and a hope.” When you trust God’s good plans, it’s easier to release the past.

2. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” When you focus on Jesus—the author of your story—you don’t need to look back because you know He’s leading you forward.

3. Pray for strength to let go.
Let God help you release what holds you back. Prayer changes your heart and renews your mind.

4. Surround yourself with encouragement.
Find people who inspire you, who remind you of God’s promises, who cheer your progress.

5. Celebrate every step forward.
Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress. Celebrate small victories to build momentum.

Your Past Does Not Define Your Destiny

Maybe your past feels like a heavy chain. Maybe the mistakes, the pain, or the memories are loud and constant. But hear this: God can redeem your past and use it to build your future. Look at Joseph in the Bible – sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned. He could have been stuck looking back at his broken past, but instead, he trusted God and stepped into his destiny. (Genesis 37-50) Another example is Peter, who denied Jesus three times but became the rock on which the Church was built. His past did not define him because he turned forward with faith. (John 21)

You can do the same.

Don’t Be Paralyzed by the Pillars of Salt Around You

This is one of those moments where I am writing and a new thought on the topic hits me. Lot kept going even when his wife had turned into the pillar of salt.

Think about that.

Imagine the heartbreak Lot must have felt. One moment his wife was right behind him, her voice in his ears, her presence beside him, and the next, silence. Stillness. She was gone. Lot could have stopped. He could have let grief paralyze him. He could have let guilt convince him to turn back and die with her. But he didn’t. He obeyed God’s voice. He kept moving forward. The message is simple: Don’t look back.

There is yet another message: Don’t let the “pillars of salt” around you keep you from moving forward either. In life, there will be people, sometimes even people you love, who refuse to let go of the past. They stay stuck in regret, bitterness, fear, shame. They live in “what was” instead of stepping into “what could be.” It’s heartbreaking to watch. We want to reach back, to pull them forward with us. But there comes a point when you must choose: Do I stay stuck with them, or do I follow God’s call into freedom?

This is not about abandoning people. We can pray, love, encourage, but we can’t live in the past with them. We can’t let their being stuck become our reality. If we do, we risk becoming frozen too. I believe Lot wept for his wife, but he didn’t stop obeying God. He didn’t let her choice derail his obedience. He kept moving forward. You may have friends, family, even leaders in your life who have become “pillars of salt” – crippled by the weight of the past, unwilling to let go. It hurts. It’s hard. But hear this: Their choice does not have to be yours.

Philippians 3:14 reminds us again: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Keep pressing on. Keep moving forward. Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is to walk forward boldly, so that your life becomes an invitation, a light that calls others to follow. Lot’s wife looked back, and lost her life. Lot obeyed, and found salvation. Choose obedience. Choose life. Choose to move forward, even when others won’t. The voice of God is calling you onward.

Don’t Become a Pillar of Salt

Let Lot’s wife’s story be a wake-up call, not to shame or fear, but to hope and boldness. God is calling you forward. It won’t always be easy. You will have moments when you want to look back, to run to what’s comfortable. But don’t stay frozen. Move forward, step out in faith, trust God’s promises. Remember: Your future is waiting. The best is yet to come. If you’re feeling stuck or afraid to move forward, take a deep breath and pray with me:

“Lord, help me to let go of what’s behind. Help me to trust You with my future. Strengthen me to walk boldly forward, eyes fixed on You, heart open to Your plans. I choose to move forward in faith, not looking back. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

✨ If this message spoke to your heart, I’d love to hear from you—drop a comment below and share this with someone who might need it today. And for more daily encouragement, be sure to check out my YouTube channel — Divine Steps Daily — where we walk together in faith, one step at a time. 🙏✨