“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”
psalm 143:5-8
As a lover of words and all things poetic, I sincerely cherish reading through the Old Testament prophets during my quiet times. Their heart thoughts are always woven into such breathtaking metaphors and powerful illustrations that speak of God’s wonder and beauty. Quite truthfully, in recent days, life has come with some undesirable moments, some for myself, but for the most part concerning many of my dear friends. I rather dislike watching those I love suffer through stormy seasons of life. Yet, as I have thought about it more the past few days, and prayed over how to be an encouragement in all of this, I have been reading through the minor prophets every morning and the theme that keeps weighing on my heart is a small, yet precious, word: remember.
When the Israelites turned from God repeatedly, allowing their questions and doubts and confusion to overwhelm their wearied hearts, and when they so stubbornly and selfishly denied their Redeemer and Creator…still He remained faithful. And throughout all the prophets this theme continues, woven in an endless and beautiful depiction of God’s love despite our human inconsistencies and flaws.
So it is this simple, but powerful whisper echoing in the chaos and confusion that I want to encourage you with today. . .God’s gentle challenge to our hearts to be still and remember.
Remember Who your God is.
And remember what He has done.
Remember what He has promised.
Stop running…slow down…take a deep breath.
Remember.
Remember Who Your God Is
Who is God to you? And does your perception of Him change when things don’t go the way you plan or desire?
Our understanding of God is critical in our ability to trust in Him when life gets hard. There will be storms while we are on this earth. That is just a part of being human. We are going to face questions and doubts and challenges, whether physical or emotional. We are going to be overwhelmed at times and lonely at others. Certainly, those are not desired by our human hearts. But are they always without lessons?
I believe God sees us at our weakest moments and often uses our brokenness to masterfully radiate His love and mercy. And it has absolutely nothing to do with us. It’s just the way our God works…and it’s beautiful.
God is not intimated by the messiness of our lives. The storms that scare us off, will not scare Him. He is the Creator, after all…what has He to fear?
When you’re at a fork in the road, when you’re staring up at a cloudy sky, hoping for the sunshine, when you’re lonely and afraid…
Is God not still the same?
Is He not still the One who spoke the world into existence?
And is He not still the One who made a shepherd boy a king?
Is He not still the One who endlessly pursued a rebellious and hopeless people?
Is He not still the Great I AM?
If the messiness of our lives could change the faithfulness of the Creator…what kind of god does that make Him?
Remember who your God is.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.”
– Isaiah 46:9
Remember All that He Has Already Done
What has God done for you? What in your life would be different if He wasn’t a part of it? I want you to genuinely think about those questions. Take a moment to just slow down, give your heart a chance to breathe, and look back. Look back at where you started and where you are. Look back and tell me what He has done for you.
How has He shaped your heart? How has He calmed your fears? In what ways has He changed you? Because if you really know Him…then I know He has changed you somehow. That’s just the way God works. He is not satisfied by material sacrifice…He wants our hearts. And when He steps in…He changes things.
Don’t forget the prayers He has already answered. Don’t forget all the long nights where He has stayed beside you when no one else would. God is faithful; He always has been…and He always will be.
Even when life takes a direction you have not planned on or chosen…even when you are tired and overwhelmed…even when you cannot make sense of things…don’t forget.
Remember all that He has already done.
Remember What He Has Promised
It is true that God never promised life would always be sunshine and roses…but He did promise that this earth is not our final home. And if we are children of the Highest King – if our hearts are truly seeking Jesus alone – then we know we are headed to a better place. That does not make our time on earth without purpose! Quite the opposite.
Knowing that this life is short and, as believers, our citizenship is in Heaven, there is a certain beauty and depth to all the storms of life. The ups and downs should make us all the more eager to share with others of the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). And when we do not see fruit, we do “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”
– Philippians 3:14-16
Praising Through the Little Lessons in Remembrance
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
-Lamentations 3:22-26
Even now as I write this, it is raining. There is something rather intriguing about the rain; it slows the world in a dreadful hue of grey, while still allowing a gentle hush that beckons one to pause and consider all God’s little graces in our lives.
Whether you are feeling alone or overwhelmed…if your heart aches or you are simply tired, I hope and pray that you choose to remember.
Because there is a precious freedom that comes with learning to be okay with not always having answers or being unable to do it all on your own.
There is a certain beauty to needing Him, needing to slow down, and needing to remember.
We can be thankful for life’s rain showers because they teach us the beauty of the sun; they allow us opportunities to praise Him even when we cannot see.
So I’m learning to praise Jesus in the rain, because I’m learning to remember.
Do you remember too?
This post could not have come at a better time. Thank you, Rue <3
Goodness, I apologize for the late response! But I am so very glad to hear that, Jessica <3