Tag: forget

I Thank God for the Memories (I Thank God For… Pt. 3)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1, “I Thank God for Gratitude”, click here. For Part 2, “I Thank God for His Promises,” click here.

Psalm 103:2 begins with, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” As I reflect on this psalm as we near the end of this year, its words resonate in the depths of my inner man. Many people called 2020 “the year that took our breath away,” but for me that was 2022. Some of the highest highs and lowest lows I’ve experienced in a long time occurred during this past year.

Lowest Lows

“Who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3). There are few things in life as terrifying as a false positive. When I was told at a routine checkup in May that I “might have had a heart attack,” only the word of God sustained me through that stressful week. Just as God preserved King Hezekiah on his deathbed (Isaiah 38:1-5), God’s word held me together as I spiraled under the hold of a terrifying diagnosis.

“Who redeems your life from destruction” (Psalm 103:4a). Well, there might be one thing more terrifying than a false positive: an SUV u-turning out of traffic and barreling toward you on the sidewalk. My feet were glued to the ground as my brain struggled to process what my eyes were seeing. But a voice in the back of my head cried, “Move!” and I leapt out of the way right before the vehicle flattened a yield sign and crashed into a tree. For weeks, anxiety swirled within me as I walked around my neighborhood. But the God who’s protected me for all my years before promised to continue protecting me now. And I knew I could trust in Him.

Highest Highs

“Who crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:5a). In the midst of the many difficult moments this past year, I found God trustworthy. Even when I was stressing over small things, God proved loving and compassionate. One day, I found out that the mover I had selected to transport my stuff across the country was untrustworthy. But after several hours of scouring the internet, I had no alternative plan. So I went for a walk to pray, and I saw the moving truck for a company I had never heard of. When I researched them, they turned out to be a perfect fit, and they transported my belongings seamlessly.

“Who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5b). Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve been blown away by God’s tremendous hand of blessing upon my life. Wonderful people have entered my journey at every step. I have classmates to celebrate with, believers to fellowship alongside, and a family to call home even when I’m a thousand miles from Houston. I never expected the food, fun, and laughs that I’ve found in this new city. And each new day I find myself waking up wondering if I’m still dreaming.

Conclusion

Memories are pictures etched in the photo album of our minds that we can flip back to in the years to come. I’m sure they will grey and grow fuzzy with time, but I’m positive that I will soon turn back to 2022 and thank God for the memories.

“I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.”

(1 Chronicles 16:12)

Looking Back, Moving Forward

By Ife J. Ibitayo

What a year! This was supposed to be the year of 20/20 vision, of renewed clarity. In a way, I think it was. We saw all too clearly the brokenness of our world, the selfishness of the prosperous, and the fragility of the human psyche. After such a sight, it’s no surprise that Forbes magazine released an article entitled, “Forget 2020.” We all want to leave pain in the past. But is the key to moving forward forgetting what lies behind?

Remember the Cultivation

“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character” (Deuteronomy 8:2a NLT). Moses gave the Israelites the instruction to remember, not forget, their wilderness wandering because God had used it to humble them.

I’ve definitely experienced humbling this year. I’ve seen the heights of my pride and the depths of my neediness. I’ve had my prayers for patience answered by painful months of waiting. But I’ve also learned to say with Apostle James, “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be mature and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).  To forget the pruning the Lord has done on the wild vines of my heart this year, would be like attending a difficult course for a whole semester and skipping the final exam. It would give me momentary reprieve, but my months of struggle would be all for naught.

Remember the Miracles

Moses went on to tell the Israelites that God “led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 8:15-16a NLT). To forget 2020 would be to neglect the ways God showed up mightily this year. Incalculable lives were lost to disease, but there were also countless souls healed. Financial ruin spread like California’s wildfires, yet there were also loans secured, evictions deferred, and basic necessities met. Tears of sadness may be drying on our faces, but we still have reason to lift our hands in praise.

Remember the LORD

Lastly, Moses said, “remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT). All human beings have an innate tendency to pat themselves on the backs. But when we reach the end of ourselves, as many of us have this past year, we find the beginning of grace. We begin to understand the reality of our eternal dependence on our sovereign Creator.

Conclusion

As we step into the new year, let’s not forget the perspective we’ve gained. Let’s carry the character we’ve built, the provision we’ve enjoyed, and the grace we’ve received into 2021.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

(Romans 8:28 CSB)