We all are hardwired with memory both short and long term. The short term memory is great for jotting down information from one page to another or for any other short-lived situation. The long term memory has the ability to remember simple things from the multiplication table you learned in third grade to more weighty complex issues of the heart that happened years ago.
It’s because of our long term memory that our childhood often comes back into play whenever we smell a certain scent or hear a certain phrase being said. I relish the memories of playing dolls on the porch or roller skating in the garage. These are sweet times of childhood where I felt free to be me. I felt joy. I felt peace. Then there are the not-so-fun memories: the times when joy and peace were absent. The times when I felt alone and unloved—abandoned.
God created us with this storehouse of long term memory. He is well aware that we carry our past with us in our present and our future. Furthermore, He instructs us in His word where to rest our memories.
The word “remember” occurs 168 times in the scriptures. So what does God want us to remember—only the good ‘ole days? Surely, He doesn’t want us to remember the difficult times, the times of suffering? It must be important to Him for it to be said often. Let’s look at one together.
Deuteronomy 15:15 says, “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you…”
Hum. This would indicate that we will remember the negative circumstances in our past BUT…there is a wonderful second part to this…we are to remember how the Lord worked. In the case of the Israelites, they were to remember how God redeemed them from slavery.
The negative is slavery. The positive is God’s redemption.
I want to encourage you when faced with hard memories that evoke hard emotions to stop and pray. Tell God about your hurt. Share with Him this memory. Then ask Him to heal it and replace it with His love. Ask Him to take the hurt out. Ask Him where you need to grant forgiveness and/or you may need to ask someone to forgive you.
Ask Him where He was during that time. Quiet your heart and listen to His still small voice. He is gentle. He is love. He is speaking. Ask Him to redeem that circumstance—that emotion. It may take a bit but eventually when your mind triggers that negative long term memory you will be left with God’s story of redemption.
There are volumes more that can be discussed when it comes to memory and what God wants us to remember and what He remembers. Yes, He is a God who remembers.
If you have a few minutes look up the word “remember” in your concordance or in blueletterbible.org and spend some time reading what the scriptures say about memory.
