About two months ago, my pastor preached a message from Mark 4:35-41. It’s the story about Jesus calming a great storm as He and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee one evening after He taught a crowd. Before they left, Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea” (vs. 35, CSB). During their journey, Jesus went to sleep, and a violent windstorm began. It was so severe that the waves of the sea came into the boat and flooded it. Because many of the disciples were fisherman, they were familiar with storms arising on the sea, but this storm was much more fierce than they were used to. They were so afraid that they woke Jesus up and said, “Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” (vs. 38). Jesus got up and calmed the storm so that the wind stopped. Then, He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (vs. 40).
I am so much like the disciples in that story. Once the storm arose, they forgot that Jesus told them they were going to cross over to the other side of the sea. They seemed to have forgotten all of the miracles they had already seen Him perform. It amazes me how I, too, seem to have spiritual amnesia whenever I experience hard times. Sometimes, it happens when I’ve been in that thing for “too long” (according to my standards), and sometimes, it happens when something unexpected occurs that throws me for a loop. There have been numerous times where I’ve asked, “Lord, do you care?” It’s like, all of a sudden, I forget what His Word says and what He’s already done for me, and I begin thinking more about my problem and how shocked I am that He would allow it to even happen.
I’m so grateful for God’s grace and patience, though! Since hearing the message from my pastor and being more intentional in prioritizing time in God’s Word, I’m coming to learn the importance of paying attention to what the Bible says and not just reading it to check it off my list of things to do for the day. To help combat my spiritual amnesia, as I read the Bible each day, God has really been impressing upon my heart to keep a running list of what the Bible says about Who He is and how He operates so that I can refer back to it during those times I’m more apt to forget what it says.
For example, I read Psalm 118 and noted throughout that Psalm that the Lord is good, He is for me, He is my helper, that His faithful love endures forever, and that it’s better to take refuge in Him than to trust in people. Now normally, I would read it and go about my day, but I made a point to write these things in my journal because these are the very things I forget when I’m “going through”. I’ve found that writing them down actually helps me remember what I’ve read.
It’s so easy to quickly read through verses just so that we can say we “had our quiet time” for the day, but if we don’t take time to really think about and focus on what it’s saying, we set ourselves up to believe lies when hard times come in our lives. Instead of believing that He’s good and loving (Psalm 118:1), we’ll think that He’s cruel and doesn’t love us. Instead of believing that He’s for us (Psalm 118:6), we’ll think He doesn’t care about us. Instead of believing that He allows hard times for a purpose (James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28), we’ll think, “God, how could you…?” Do you catch my drift?!
So, sisters, it is crucial to know and remember the truth, and the only way we can know the truth is by reading God’s Word. But we can’t just read it, we have to be intentional in learning it because there will come a day when we need to know it. If we focus on the TRUTH of Who He is, we don’t have to worry about whether or not He cares about us.
Let’s Get Practical: Reflect & Grow
- What hard thing(s) has God already brought you through/delivered you from? Write it in your journal, and include as many details as possible on what happened during that time, how you felt during the crisis, and how God delivered you. This will serve as a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness to you in difficult circumstances.
- What are some practical things you can do to help you remember what you read in the Bible (e.g. memorizing scripture, writing verses in your journal, posting verses around your home, etc.)?
- How can you remember to focus on Who God is and what He’s already done for you during difficult times?
