Tag Archives: Remember God

Not alone

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One thing that always threatens us is the false perception that we are all alone; that “nobody knows the struggle I’ve seen; nobody knows my sorrow.” Such thinking always puts us in a very dark place that isolates us from the very help and solace we need. It leads us to despair and then to hopelessness. Feeling forever defeated, we give up on dreams, on loved ones, even on life itself.

One thing that always comforts us and brings us hope is that even in times of struggle – especially in such difficult times – that we are not alone at all. God cares about your struggles and so do others, even if they find it hard to express or you find it hard to receive their helpful gestures. Even in times that seem like a dry desert, a wilderness that lacks clear direction, in times of dire distress when you can’t find comfort, when you’re so weary and have no words to express your pain and sorrow and disappointment – even in these times you are not alone. You may feel God has abandoned you or that he ignores your requests. It may seem like he has forgotten you or is angry with you.

The psalmist felt this way too. His response? He cried out loud to God. He turned from his present and past problems to the one who knows his future. He meditated and remembered that God is God, even in the midst of his troubles.  He appealed to God, remembering his history of faithfulness to his people, his wondrous and miraculous works. After acknowledging his very real pains it seems the turning point for him is recognizing:

“Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?” Psalm 77:13

How true is that for us also! Acknowledging in the middle of our troubles and challenges that our God is a sovereign and caring God. Where else would we turn for help? Our money, our abilities, our health, our friends and family – all are temporary. Only God has the lasting answers to our woes. Even the worst of earthly storms answer to him.

“Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” (v 19)

Even when we cannot see the footprints of God or fathom the moving of his hand among us, even when it seems his ways might not be better than ours, our God is our God. Everything we have ever faced, what we face now, and everything we will ever encounter, is subject to him.

Take a moment to remember how God has specifically moved in the past to protect and provide for you. Ponder the names of people he has put in your path to help and comfort you. Recall how he has helped you to endure and persevere and overcome your past challenges. Write these down and imagine how this same mighty and faithful God will carry out his promises to protect and provide for you in the future, even as he comforts you now.

We are not alone.  Remember God and remember his faithful promises. God – our God – has adopted us into his family and will never leave us. He sees us where we are and leads us through even the valley of the shadow of death. He understands our worries, doubts, and fears. He is calling right now:

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The question for each of us is, “How will I respond to his call right now?”

The power of remembering

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If you could remember only one or two things and lost everything else, what would you choose to remember?

Over the years, I’ve observed a number of people lose their memories due to dementia, stroke, other accident, or any number of other events that suddenly or gradually impact their lives. Wives forgot they were married, parents didn’t recognize their children, people from all walks of life lost their identity along the way.

I’ve sometimes pondered in my quiet times of meditation, if I were left with the ability to remember just one or two things, and if I could choose what those were, what would rise to the top of my list to remember and never forget? What comes to your mind? Maybe you’d choose to remember your faith, your marriage, your family. It’s unlikely you’d choose to remember all the trivia you’ve collected in your brain and it seems very likely that trivia competes fiercely with other important things we want to remember!

Of course we don’t have choice or control over such events in our life. Or do we? I’ve written before how our frequent and most passionate thoughts and experiences build neurological paths in the brain. Like a path cut through a meadow by frequent visits, our brains find it easy to access these memories quickly. Thoughts and experiences that we neglect become like paths overgrown with thorn bushes; the path is almost erased by neglect. It is like that with God’s Word and close relationships. The more we focus our time, energy, and passions in these, that memory becomes ingrained in our memory and in our very identity.

That doesn’t provide a guarantee that we will always and forever remember these, but it seems that we have some ability to intentionally strengthen our memories. On each of our 41 wedding anniversaries, Marcia and I revisit our favorite memories of being together and the people we have met along the way. And we try to purposely set aside times to make new memories together. We remember what we imprint on our brains.

How important is the gift of memory! God reminds us throughout his Word, “REMEMBER I am your God.” The psalmists frequently recall the Lord’s deeds so they can remember how God has been faithful through the ages. I find encouragement and hope in remembering how God’s goodness and faithfulness has led me through the trials of the past ten months with Leukemia. Surely, He has not taken me this far to abandon me in present trials!

Remembering past faithfulness builds our hope for the future! It reminds us of God’s compassion and mercies which are renewed every morning. Here’s to building paths to our very most important memories and to making new memories that will make today matter!

Remember

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In one edition of an old Wizard of Id cartoon a man walked into the pharmacy saying he wanted to pick up his memory pills. The pharmacist answered, “I gave those to you yesterday.” To which the man replied, “I want my money back!”:-)

Memory problems are often no laughing problem. They can present real dilemmas. When we lived in Australia, we met a real gentleman, who had spoken seven languages fluently before a stroke took that away one day, leaving him with only rudimentary communication abilities in his primary language. Recently in the news, a man who spoke English all his life, woke up one day speaking only Swedish; doctors couldn’t figure out a cause and he subsequently immigrated to Sweden to start a new life, unaware of any family he might have elsewhere. Another man, after surgery, couldn’t remember being married to the beautiful woman standing by his hospital bed. When Marcia’s dad was alive she would have to remind him who she was. It would come back to him in a few minutes…until the next visit when she would lovingly help him remember again.

Have you ever contemplated what it would be like to experience such a scenario where you couldn’t remember the most important things in life? If you had a choice of being able to remember one or two things what would you ask God to always retain in your memory? I know what mine are. Today is a good day to commit to a lifetime of important memories!

Years ago Dr. James Dobson commented that God designed our brains to never forget. That even in devastating situations like Alzheimer’s, the brain remembers, especially the most important things, but a problem is caused that inhibits accessing the information. Disease, stress, and being preoccupied with too many things may contribute to “memory loss.” But what causes us to “forget” our path in life and our true loves? How is it we are able to “walk away” only to later need a long and difficult journey back to the point we rediscover our heart’s desire?

God prompts us all throughout His Word, “REMEMBER. I AM the Lord Your God.” It seems we have a penchant for going our own way throughout the day, and sometimes throughout periods of our life. We forget to go to Him first with problems. We forget that His purpose for us to draw close to Him, not just to get through difficult times. There have been times I have forgotten that I am really a strong and eternal spiritual being with a very fragile and temporary physical body, not the other way around.

Why does a daily habit and lifetime pursuit of ‘remembering’ God make a difference? Isn’t this the key to remembering everything else that is important to our life pursuit? To truly love my spouse, my children, *and* those around me?

Let’s commit to remembering God throughout the day so He can shine His light on the other important aspects of our life!