In what ways can we remind ourselves of God's faithfulness despite feeling forgotten? Feeling Forgotten—Lamentations 5:20 “Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?” • Scripture records the raw cry of hearts that feel abandoned. • The verse invites honesty before God while still addressing Him—evidence of underlying trust. Reality: God Has Not Forgotten • Deuteronomy 7:9 — “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God—the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” • Isaiah 49:15-16 — even a nursing mother may forget, “though she may forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” • Hebrews 13:5 — “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Rehearsing His Record of Faithfulness • Read and reread accounts of God’s steadfast love: the Exodus, the wilderness provision, the cross, the resurrection. • Psalm 77:11 — “I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.” • Lamentations 3:22-23 — “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed… great is Your faithfulness!” Practical Habits to Keep Memory Alive • Scripture memory: write verses on cards, phone wallpapers, or sticky notes. • Journaling: record answers to prayer and daily mercies; revisit entries when discouragement comes. • Worship playlists: surround the mind with songs saturated in biblical truth. • Sunrise gratitude: each morning list three evidences of God’s goodness “new every morning.” Building Memorials Like Israel Did • Joshua 4:6-7 — stones from the Jordan became a perpetual reminder of divine deliverance. • Modern parallels: – Keep a “faithfulness jar” where family members drop notes of God’s provision. – Frame photos or mementos tied to pivotal moments of answered prayer. Letting Community Strengthen Memory • Testimony nights or small-group sharing reinforce collective memory of God’s works. • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers to meet together and spur one another on; mutual encouragement counters the lie of being forgotten. Anchoring Hope in Christ’s Finished Work • 2 Timothy 2:13 — “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” • Luke 22:19 — “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Communion itself is a built-in reminder that God’s covenant love is sealed by the blood of Jesus. • The empty tomb stands as the ultimate proof that apparent abandonment (Good Friday) ends in triumphant presence (Resurrection Sunday). When Feelings Resurface • Speak truth to the soul as the psalmist does: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?… Put your hope in God” (Psalm 42:5). • Replace anxious thoughts with promised realities; feelings fluctuate, God’s character does not. • Return to Lamentations 5:20—not as a conclusion, but as a starting point that leads back to every promise above. |
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