I Have A Story To Tell
Episode 4
You can’t change the past, but you can create your future
By Millicent Senava Mannah
“Yesterday is not yours to change, but tomorrow is yours to create.”
You cannot alter your past, but you can shape your future. Success is a choice, and so is failure. Whatever difficult situation you may find yourself in today, the first step to change is taking full responsibility for your life.
It’s okay to fail. It’s human to make mistakes. But rather than wallowing in self-pity, you must rise above it. The world is not interested in excuses; it is drawn to results. People care less about what you’re going through and more about what you can contribute. If you have nothing to offer, the world tends to ignore you. Harsh as it may sound, refusing to take responsibility can render your potential useless.
The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 24:16, “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” Falling is not the end. In fact, it’s often where true growth begins. But here’s the truth: you don’t just rise by accident, you rise by choice and action.
Have you ever made strong, positive declarations over your life but still saw no change? That’s because confessions without corresponding action are empty. Faith without works is dead. Positive thinking matters, but it must be paired with real effort. Words without action are powerless.
No one is coming to clean up your mess or fix your mistakes. You are responsible for your own destiny. God has already equipped you with everything you need. As 2 Peter 1:3 puts it: “According to His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.”
In other words, you already have the resources, it’s your duty to use them.
So challenge yourself. Take ownership. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, or for someone to help. Start now.
Because no matter where you’ve been, your future is still in your hands.
Millicent Senava Mannah is a writer and youth advocate based in Sierra Leone. She is passionate about personal development, faith, and community empowerment.
