Remembering. The act of doing this can evoke a myriad of emotions. Anger. Frustration. Hurt. Comfort. Happiness. Joy. Each one of these emotions is tied to a memory. At times, we strive our best to not remember. If we remember that time in our life, it stirs up the feelings of anger, frustration and hurt that go along with it. Why would we want to remember something so negative? If, however, we have memories to which comfort, happiness and joy are attached, we are eager and quick to remember those times. Those memories bring a smile to our face.
The memory is a strange thing. A certain smell or color or time of year can in one second bring us back to a specific time or place in an instant. One thing that strikes me about remembering is that it is so incredibly specific to the individual. What for one may bring happiness may for another bring a tear to the eye. Remembering with regards to occurrences in our lives here on earth can easily pull us in two very opposite directions, depending on how we were thinking or feeling at that time.
Today, during worship, we were asked to bring ourselves to a place of remembering with God. When the pastor first mentioned this, I cringed. So many times, when I’m worshipping, and I begin remembering, the things that my mind uncovers are painful. It’s like I immediately focus on something that was negative. But today, God had something else in mind. He was going to teach me through this process of remembering. God wanted me to remember His promises. He didn’t want me to look to a time when this or that happened, things that were completely wrapped up in and based on myself or other people. No, this time the focus was to be on Him. God pointed me to specific things that He had spoken to me, and said, “Remember this…”. My initial reaction was, “Yeah, God. Of course I remember. I remember because I’m still waiting for You to fulfill that promise. “ As I began to think on the things He was bringing up, however, I came to a very important realization. The reason behind my negativity about remembering those promises was because I had turned them into something that was about me and my selfish desires. I wanted Him to fulfill what He had spoken to me right then and there and in the exact way I though was best. Where was the trust? If I begin to focus on a situation or person, I lose sight of where my hope should be centered. I begin thinking of every possible way God could fulfill His promises and every person He could use to do so. Why all the worry? It gets me nowhere, and then I begin to try to forget His promises so that I am not disappointed. When I couple my remembering of His promises with a hope and a trust in Him, however, I will never be disappointed. God wants me to remember and cling to His promises so that in the end, I will know His glory. If God can be glorified in my remembrance of His promises in my life, I will strive to that end with all that I have.
“For no matter how many promises God has mad, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”- 2 Corinthians 1:20
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