Remember...

During our Wednesday night service at church, the pastor preached on Psalm 42. At first it seemed like a pretty average sermon; the typical study. But this time the words hit home in a new way. It's not that the psalm is particularly deep, but I found a new richness underneath the surface, that made me see it in a whole new light.

The Psalmist is lamenting over the state of his soul. He is 'downcast'...basically bummed...depressed. You get the picture. But he does an odd thing. He asks himself why he's discouraged and goes on to encourage himself by reminding himself of the blessings God has shown him in the past.

This got me to thinking...How am I to encourage myself through the rough times, If I don't have any good things stored up in my memory bank? I need to look at the wondrous things God does for me each day. I need to not only recognize the $20. found when I was broke, or the healing when I was sick...those are obvious. They are wonderful. But that can't be all I have stored up there, or I'll soon be bankrupt.

I need to fill my bank with: "the time I was hurt but didn't die", "the time my car broke down, but I wasn't in a wreck", and "the time I was late for a plane, but got to spend a restful hour reading His Word". These little blessings that occur hidden in the trials of life should fill our banks to overflowing...but we must choose to see them, choose to recognize His goodness in every situation. If we dwell only on the sorrow, on our loss, on our pain...our eyes aren't focused on the whole picture. God sees the 360 of our lives, we only see pieces. It's so easy to get caught up in the pieces. But if we try, if we purpose to see beyond ourselves in the here and now, we can store up a wealth of beautiful memories.

If I can do this...then these memories will sustain me. They will encourage me in the dark days. I will see the light that God pours over my life and not just the shadows of the hour.

So, "Why so downcast, o my soul?...Put your trust in God!" has a very new meaning for me now. I can look at even my darkest moments and see His blessings and find encouragement for my soul...because I know that in every situation, God is with me ...and for me... and when I remember His very nature is to love me...I find strength.

So, remember to look for His blessings, choose to see them, to remember them, to store them up as a treasure...and feel His love!