Sticky notes and scraps with scribbles say it all: age = forgetfulness….at least for me. If I don’t write down reminders, I’ll surely miss an appointment or fail to fulfill a commitment. From personal experience, however, I suspect that forgetfulness happens for other reasons, too.
Consider problems, for instance. It’s interesting to see how one’s memory of God’s promises often fails when life deals a tough blow. Stress and fear sabotage our minds, and our ability to recall His words takes flight.
Perhaps this is what happened to several women in Luke 24:1-9. They’d gone to Jesus’ tomb early in the morning to anoint his body with burial spices. Imagine their grief after witnessing His crucifixion. With the scene still fresh in their minds, they may have been hanging onto hope by a thread and fearing an unknown future without the Messiah. But the angelic visitors at the tomb helped them refocus with these wise words: “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day” (vv.6,7).
The women did what the angels said and immediately their hope was restored. Scripture says, “Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples – and everyone else – what had happened” (v. 8,9).
When problems or obstacles face us, we need to heed the same advice – remember Jesus’ words spoken to us. Matthew 28:20 is a good example – “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Our problems look much less intimidating in light of His promises, and we find encouragement, confidence, and peace.
When you think of Jesus’ words, which ones have been especially meaningful to you during difficult times?
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