Why We Remember

On Tuesday, we will remember.

In 1918, the Armistice that ended World War I was signed on November 11th at 11 a.m. Remembrance Day remains an opportunity to pay tribute to those who fought for liberty in times of war. Today, we enjoy freedom, both personally and nationally, because of those who sacrificed their lives on our behalf.

Remembering is an integral part of the human experience. Our memories not only connect us to the past; they help inform the present and guide the future. Studies show that intentionally recalling happy experiences can help to disrupt negative thought patterns and alleviate anxiety, depression, and stress.

Not surprisingly, remembering is also a significant theme in the Bible. The Passover meal was an important event for the children of Israel as they remembered their deliverance from Egypt and God’s covenant faithfulness. The Lord told Moses, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord” (Exodus 12:14). The Passover was ultimately fulfilled in Christ when mankind was delivered from sin through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. As Jesus shared a meal with the disciples and spoke of what was to come, he told them, “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:14-20). Later, as Jesus left this earth, he promised that the Holy Spirit would come “to bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

Remembrance helps shape our identity as children of God. It keeps us rooted in the truth of who God is. It anchors our hope in the promises of God.

In the midst of our struggles, it’s crucial to look back on the goodness of the Lord. We’re so prone to forgetting when things are hard. We might convince ourselves that God does not see our tears or hear our prayers.

Instead of distancing ourselves from Him amid our hardships, this can be a time of reflection as we recall God’s faithfulness to us in the past:

• When did God bring comfort in my grief?
• When did God give strength in my weakness?
• When did God grant peace in my anxiety?
• When did God give courage in my fear?
• When did God provide in my need?

Tim Challies beautifully writes, “As we look back on the course we ran, we will see that God sustained us by laying out great stores of provisions along the way. We will see that our course led from storehouse to storehouse, cache to cache, oasis to oasis.”

So the next time disappointment, sadness or uncertainty sets in, remember.

Remember your standing in Christ. Remember the character of God. Remember God’s promises to those He loves. Remember how God has guided and sustained. Then move ahead in hope.

The same God who walked with you in the past is the same God who will be with you in all your tomorrows.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your wonders of old. Psalm 77:11