Well, summer's over and fall is upon us. In fact, fall is already about halfway through! Most of the leaves are down, temperatures are lowering, first flurries are falling . . . this is not my favorite season :)
Already, though it's only been a month or two, I have forgotten what a green forest looks like, or what a warm day feels like, or what an evening thunderstorm sounds like. Already the experiences of summer fade away into mere memory, which isn't quite the same.
It is so easy to forget that which lies outside of our present experience. What we do not feel we can only remember. How often do we feel this when we go through trials and difficulties!
Things get tough, the road gets rough, and what do we do? Too easily we forget God, the One we most need to remember!
Psalm 105:4-5:
"Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered."
This is how we are to deal with difficulty: remember God! When problems arise and our strength fails, we must remember Him who's strength never fails. The trouble is that this is more often easier said than done. It's like fall: when we get into tribulation, all our past experience fades into memory. If we do not feel God's presence, we find it difficult to remember Him--and turn to Him!
But the psalm does not end here, in fact, the charge to remember God is not even the focus of the psalm:
"He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the word that He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that He made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac . . ." (Psalm 105:7-9).
"For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham, His servant" (Psalm 105:42).
This psalm is about something beyond the necessity to remember God. It is about God's remembrance of us! He remembers us! That is a glorious truth to cling to when times are tough. A glorious truth indeed!
When things are hard at home, at work, at school, or wherever, remember that God remembers you. Believe that He remembers You. He does!
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11).
4 comments:
My apologies to those of you who are reading my blog in Australia :) Obviously it isn't fall out your way, so you may not be able to sympathize quite as directly.
Praise God that Christ sometimes allow problems in our life just so we can remember him.
Great post and pictures Sam,
Autumn happens to be my favorite time of year, but I hear your message. How easy it is to forget God at unfamiliar times and in unfamiliar places.
LOL at the Australia remark here. I occasionally chat with an Aussie and I'm still not considerate of their seasons. :D
I confess: I'm biased. It isn't so much that I don't like fall, but I do not like the season which it precedes--winter. Bleh :P Too dead for my taste. Anyway, I'm glad you got my main point :)
Post a Comment