Let’s face it, we all have good times, and then we all have bad ones. The trouble is, those good times can be really hard to remember during the bad ones.
During the dark moments, we tend to doubt God. I’ve personally struggled over illness, job loss, and the death of loved ones; others have experienced far greater trials. Those times can cause us to question, “Is God good? Is He even real?” In our pain we easily forget the incredible promises God offers us and often exchange them for temporary pleasures of this world.
People have had the same problem for years: short memory. When Israel was set free from Egypt, they sang and danced and praised the Lord for the incredible miracles He performed. A few weeks later, they complained and whined and wished they died in Egypt because of a few mini-trials.
For some reason, we just struggle to remember God’s goodness. But there’s hope!
Here are 5 creative ways to remember the good things God has done for you. When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will know that you are not alone.
1) The Giant Jar:
You need a really big jar for this. A giant jar. Every time God moves in your life, every time he answers a prayer or you sense His presence, then write it down on a little piece of paper and throw it in the jar. When you struggle to believe God is there, take your entire empty jar and dump every piece of paper on your bed or floor or table. Start reading them, and keep reading those notes until your confidence and faith has been restored.
Imagine these are notes instead of pop tabs
2) The Two Paged Journal:
On the left page of your journal, write prayer requests down that you are offering to the Lord. The more specific the better. When God answers your prayers, write down how He answered them on the right page of your journal. Anytime you need a reminder, just open up the journal and remember how He has answered prayer over the years. The results can be stunning.
3) The Scrapbook:
For the more creative types, this is a great way to go. Anytime you get an encouraging note, find a great verse or quote, have a picture from a great memory, then keep it! Take all those cut outs and start to build a scrapbook . Draw, paint, do whatever your creative abilities allow you to do, and then read through the book when you need some encouragement.
4) Look to Others:
You are not the first to have suffered or doubted God’s goodness. Spend time reading about Christians who came before, you can clearly see how God was with them in trials and triumphs. CS Lewis’s “A Grief Observed” is a great example of this kind of literature. When we recognize and remember that they held onto God’s goodness, it becomes easier for us today.
5) The Promise Keeper:
Every time you read a Bible verse in which God makes or fulfills His promises, keep it. Whether you write it on some paper or have a list of verse references in the back of your Bible, there is nothing more encouraging than consistently seeing God’s promises fulfilled. He is still fulfilling the promises He made thousands of years ago, and there is no reason He would stop now!
Genesis 15:5
Those are our top 5 ways to remember God’s goodness. What is your favorite way?
