We’ve all got a history, a past, stuff that is behind us.
Of course in all that there is good and bad stuff, stuff we may rather forget and stuff we always want to remember.
Where is God in all that?
What has he done for you?
As life goes by we tend to reflect on the past, the “good old days.” In Psalm 44 it seems like the author was overhearing a conversation about the past. “We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.” The writer goes on to describe all the amazing things God had done for the people of Israel, the amazing victories and miracles he performed on their behalf. He delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, led them through the wilderness with fire by night and cloud by day, and moved them into the Promised Land. That is an amazing history.
Here’s the cool thing: God is still the same now as he was then. And he is still able to do amazing things for us. So, I ask again, what has done for you?
In this season of transition I’ve been thinking a lot about hope and my reasons for it. One of the biggest things I know and keep coming back to is that God does not change, no matter what changes in my life. Because of that I have hope. There are some stories in our family history that I love to recall because they are such a vivid reminder of how God provides. I think of the stories that my parents have shared with me about a season of unemployment they went through. During that time God provided in miraculous ways. They’ve shared of how there would be a knock at the door and they would open it to find a porch full of groceries. One of my favorite stories is from my mom. She shared how one day she was praying for God to provide something to eat other than chicken, she even prayed specifically for Chinese food. That day my dad was asked to help some friends move, at the end of the day they picked up Chinese for everyone who helped. Dad took home a box of leftovers, including my mom’s favorites, plus everyone’s leftover change and cash. It’s amazing how God cares for all the details of our lives, even the little things.
There are also stories from Zac’s family of miraculous provision. His great grandparents were pastors and things were often tight because of that. They were at a point when there was nothing to eat in the house and the weekly offering had come up empty. They sat down to eat lunch after church, a lunch with no food at the table. Grandpa Anderson asked Grandma Anderson and Zac’s Grandma Jackie what they would like to eat. Grandma Anderson listed the ingredients for pancakes, Grandma Jackie wished for cupcakes with white frosting and Grandpa Anderson said he would love cantaloupe. So they bowed their heads to pray in faith and thanked God for the lunch they would get. As they said “amen” there was a knock at the door. On the other side they found a man they had never met holding a few grocery sacks. He said he was driving by and felt compelled to stop and give them what was in the sacks. Well, you can probably guess what the bags contained. Everything they had prayed for.
The good old days are not just old; God is still doing good works for his people today. His promises are still valid for you and me right now. I find such hope in that, knowing that he can and will provide for us during this season. He already has in some amazing ways. He is faithful, all the time-because of that I have hope.
"It is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us. Now unto God our Father be glory forever and ever. " Philippians 4:19-20.
and what's a post without a picture? She's pretty lovely, isn't she?
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