DID YOU FORGET?
Most people I know suffer from memory loss when it comes to what God has done in their life—including myself. Some suffer from short-term memory loss or long-term memory loss when it comes to God’s grace. We often forget about the ordeals we have faced in the past and how God rescued us or gave us the strength to make it through a
situation. Sometimes we don’t even remember the grace he just gave us yesterday.
The storms of life can cause us to be forgetful, stressed, doubtful, fearful, and unappreciative of our current condition. We are all like Peter, walking on the choppy waters of life and start to sink because the storms of life cause fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. What can we do when we are faced with moments of doubts, fear, and anxiety about our current situation? Who gives us a good example for our lives?
The prophet Elijah gives us some perspective.?In 1 Kings 19 1-4, it says: Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had killed the prophets. 2-She sent a message to Elijah: “You killed my prophets. Now I’m going to kill you! I pray that the gods will punish me even more severely if I don’t do it by this time tomorrow.”
3-Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 4-then walked
another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the Lord, “I’ve had enough. Just let me die! I’m no better off than my ancestors.”
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Elijah was afraid of King Ahab’s wife Jezebel because she threatened to kill him. She also had a history of killing God’s prophets and in-fluencing her husband to follow her evil ways. Elijah ran in fear to one town, then walked another whole day in the desert. But Elijah in the midst of his fear, anxiety, confusion, was suffering from long and short-term memory loss. Prior to being threatened by Jezebel, Elijah forgot what God did in his life. Elijah forgot that God used him to cause the rain to stop for 3? years. He forgot that when he was hungry, God sent ravens to feed him. Elijah’s memory loss made him forget the miracle of the barrel of meal and the oil; the resurrection of the widow’s son. He forgot the calling of fire from heaven on the alter. He forgot the strength God gave him to run ahead of Ahab’s
chariot. He forgot how God allowed it to rain. Elijah, like most of us, let the fear of his current circumstance forget God’s consistency in his life.
So, Don… What’s your point? My point is… when we face trials and tribulations, fears, doubts, anxiety, and disappointments, all we have to do is look back and remember how God showed up in the past. Remember the miracles. Remember the victories. Remember the comfort he gave you. Remember how he made a way out of no way. Remember all the times you thought there was no solution… he came up with one. So, when you find yourself struggling or dealing with a situation, stop for a second before your mind starts to panic—and reflect on the victories and the blessings God did for you in the past.
Homework: Write a journal and date all the ways and things God did in your life since birth. Then write in it weekly or when you know God has done something. When times get challenging, go back, and read that journal. It will be a reminder of his presence and grace in your life!
Written By Donald Edwards