God IS Greater
Memories.
Sometimes memories are marvelous and comforting. Remembering wonderful moments of our life – being hired for the job we dreamed of – love – marriage – the birth of our children – watching these children grow, experience life and love. Yet, sometimes memories aren’t so great. Sometimes mistakes we’ve made or things done to us flood our minds causing remorse, anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness or blame.
Where do we go with these feelings? If we are true believers, we have repented, received forgiveness, and God’s Gift of salvation. So why do bad memories still plague us? Are they merely lies of the enemy filling our mind? Could they be something else, or maybe, a combination of the two? Good questions.
The truth is we were created with a memory. Motion picture snippets roaming around in our head in vivid color. Good memories are always welcomed. But bad ones, never, and they seem to appear at some of the most inopportune times. Activated by our senses, a taste, a sight, a smell, a word or sound, and there we are right back in the situation without warning. Feelings rush to the surface and cloud the present. Our heart, aka soul, is discouraged and even condemned, thinking, if only…
We aren’t robots and the problem is our memory is faulty. We can’t always trust it. Yet, even if we can trust our memory is accurate, we need perspective. When did it happen? Before you knew Christ or after? If after, God has given a multitude of ways to deal with unpleasant memories. Sometimes repentance is needed and sometimes forgiveness. But thankfully, His peace will guide us in the decisions we make.[1]
However, if before, why does our heart still condemn us? Isn’t it all under the Blood of Jesus? We are definitely not the person we were then. So, as difficult as it is, we must strive to see things through God’s eyes and in light of eternity. Certain things were allowed in our lives to bring us to Christ and to accomplish God’s purposes in us. Being a true believer, if we desire with our entire being to love God and others and to serve Him with a whole heart, then we need to trust His Word. “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”[2] He knows what’s in the darkness because light dwells with Him.[3] Let the memory go. Judge nothing before its time. Jesus will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart.[4]
Although this is true, because of sin, sometimes our heart forgets we are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit and we are to walk in Him. So, let’s remember when we do, there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...[5]
Replace your cruel memories with this: Our Lord sees us as His bride. Yes, once we were in sin feeling forsaken and desolate.[6] But in Christ, we are forgiven, cleansed, and redeemed by His Blood.[7] Our God delights in us. “…For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”[8]
So when memories come in like a flood and your heart condemns you, plan now to bring our Sovereign Lord into the midst of them. Say aloud, “God is greater than my heart. He is the Mighty One who saved me. He rejoices over me with gladness and with singing. He calms and quiets me with His great love.”[9]
[1] Colossians 3:15
[2] I John 3:20
[3] Daniel 2:22
[4] I Corinthians 4:5
[5] Romans 8:1
[6] Isaiah 62:4
[7] Revelation 5:9
[8] Isaiah 62:5
[9] Zephaniah 3:17
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