Here's a transcript of the devotion I gave yesterday relating to memory and trusting God in hard times:
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Basic intro summary: I suffer from very bad “mommy brain”. My hubby has his own forgetfulness challenges that result from a very mentally demanding job. My only comfort is knowing that we’re not alone in this. I know may of you can relate, have been so kind - making allowances for my scattered brain.
But it’s not just moms or fighter pilots who struggle with memory problems. Really, the people of God have struggled with chronic forgetfulness since they became a nation at the beginning of Exodus.
If you’ve read the Old Testament, you know that - over and over again - God would do something amazing to rescue or care for His chosen people, and the Israelites would commit themselves to living righteous lives in response to His providence - and then not two chapters later, they start complaining, rebelling, or crying out to God in fear whenever they were threatened. Somehow, they forgot what God had done for them and, as a result, they failed to trust and obey Him.
I don’t know about you, but every time I read through some of these stories, I get so frustrated with the Israelites. HOW DO THEY NOT GET IT??? How could these people personally witness all of God’s wonders in Egypt with the plagues, etc., see the pillar of cloud guiding them, physically walk through the parted waters of the red sea, and still fail to trust that God was going to provide for their basic needs?? I mean - if you look at Exodus 15, it records the song of Moses, where he’s leading the people in worship as they rejoice after being delivered from slavery. Then turn the page to Exodus 16 and it says: 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (v.2-3)
WHAT? This should be a no brainer. OBVIOUSLY God is good, and powerful, and wants the best for His people. Times were tough, they were hungry and homeless, wandering in the dessert. But - no matter their circumstances - the Israelites should have trusted that God would take care of them.
But then, I look at my own life, and realize that I have no grounds on which to judge them because I am just as fickle. I’ve been through some really tough stuff and seen the incredible ways that God has sustained me during the trial, and all of the growth and blessings that resulted from weathering the storm. Time after time after time, He has proven Himself faithful. I’ve seen His grace and good purposes at work in my life. I’ve felt His love and protection and healing! And yet, whenever something scary or unknown, or painful happens, my first reaction is to freak out and make myself physically ill due to fear and anxiety. WHY? Because I’ve forgotten what God has done for me.
I won’t ask for a show of hands here, but I’m sure many of you are in that same boat with me. So how do we deal with this? What can we do to help our spiritual amnesia and trust God in the hard times?
One of the most effective ways I’ve found to combat the fear and doubt and coax my weak self into trusting God is building a mental arsenal of scripture that reminds me of God’s promises. Scripture memory is not my forte. As we’ve already discussed, my memory is not what it should be. BUT, I’ve read and recited, copied down, meditated on and prayed these scriptures over and over again so their truth is forever ingrained in my mind. If needed, I can quickly find them in my Bible, or google them, or whatever. So that, whenever tragedy strikes, or life throws us a curve ball, I’m prepared to combat my fear with truth.
I don’t know where you’re at today - what you may be struggling with. I don’t know all of your stories and the tough roads you’ve walked to get here today. And I certainly don’t know what the future may hold for you. But I do know that each one of us could benefit from Hearing God’s word and His promises. So if you want to write these verses down - maybe in the back of your Bible or on a piece of paper that you can tuck in there for future reference, please do so. And know, too, that these are just 6 of hundreds of encouraging verses.
John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah 43:1-3 - “But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”
Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 34:18 - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Romans 5:3 and James 1:2-4 (Essentially say the same thing.) - (Romans) “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
2 Cor 1:3-5: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
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Now, I’m going to invite Esther and Leigh Anne to come up and lead us in another exercise to help us remember and hold onto the promises of God and His proven faithfulness so we can trust Him when times get tough.
(WORSHIP - WRITING ON ROCKS - “MONUMENTS” THAT REMIND US OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD {From Joshua 4})
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We’ve been talking all year about roots; getting back to our roots, being deeply rooted in Christ… And you know, scientifically, the trees with the strongest, deepest roots are the ones that have to withstand gale force winds and crazy storms.
I certainly would not wish trials on any of you, nor would I argue that some of the hard, painful things we cope with are caused by God. The unfortunate truth about our fallen world is that bad things often happen to good people who don’t deserve it. God doesn’t want people to suffer. But He does allow us to walk through these valleys to help us grow some stronger roots as we learn to rely on Him. He can and will use even the worst of our circumstances for good, if we can remember His promises and trust Him enough to hang on until the end. I pray that each of you have been able to look back through your life and see His hand at work - redeeming the brokenness, teaching and molding you into a stronger woman, and bringing glory to Himself through your steps of faith.
As a good friend of mine once said, whenever you go through hard times, don’t ask yourself “why?” That’s self-defeating. Instead, ask yourself, “What?” What is God doing right now and what do I need to do to honor and praise Him, even in the middle of the storm?
PRAY
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