Have you ever been asked, “Where were you when 9/11 happened?”
I had just moved to a new city, to start a new job, in a new sector. I was sitting in an induction meeting in the office of the organisation that I had only just joined, when a colleague came running down the corridor, shouting loudly.
“The World Trade Centre is on fire!” she declared, her voice shaking, her American accent clear for all to hear.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Earlier this month, as we reached another anniversary of 9/11, I was struck afresh by the stories.
Stories of horror, pain and suffering. Stories of kindness, hope and survival. But also, in the midst of the memories, some faith-filled stories of how God was at work when it happened, and in the immediate aftermath.
As I listened to these stories, I sensed God speaking.
He spoke to me about the importance of shared collective history being recalled and recorded. He spoke to me about the role of ‘stories’ in helping us remember. He spoke to me about how they have to be handed down, from one generation to the next.
And he reminded me that it was exactly the same in Bible times.
***
Right in the heart of the Bible lies a psalm that recounts the history of the Israelites. It particularly focuses on recounting all the ways that God has intervened in the lives of his people throughout their history.
Written during a time when the Israelites were facing various hardships and challenges, the psalmist is trying to remind them of the ways in which God has faithfully and powerfully acted on their behalf in the past. He is urging them to remember his faithfulness; to recall the miracles that he has done for them as a people. He is seeking to shift their perspective away from their current struggles.
In essence, he is saying: If God has come through for us before, then he can certainly come through for us again.
But then he says this:
“They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.” (Psalm 78:11)
How tragic is this?
God has parted the Red Sea, enabling his people to walk across on dry ground and escape from slavery in Egypt. He has brought forth water from a rock in the desert. He has fed them, daily, with manna and quail. He has guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He has given them victory in all their battles.
Yet, despite all this, his people have forgotten what he has done. They have forgotten these incredible mighty miraculous acts. They have forgotten all the signs and wonders he has performed on their behalf.
They appear to be suffering from a severe case of spiritual amnesia – and the consequences are disastrous.
Instead of praising, worshipping and trusting God, they have fallen into disobedience, idolatry and rebellion. Instead of focusing on his goodness and sovereignty, they are consumed by the tests and trials they are facing, which is leaving them wallowing in unbelief, doubt and disappointment.
***
How many of us can relate to this? How many of us are suffering from spiritual amnesia?
It can be all too easy to forget God’s works and wonders. It can be all too easy to lose sight of the ways in which he has intervened in our lives, individually and collectively with others. It can be all too easy to become comfortable, complacent and compromised – and to slowly, subtly, turn our backs on the one who has done so much for us.
Yet Psalm 78:11 acts as a powerful reminder to remember.
It’s one of the many reasons I love to keep a spiritual journal.
When we remember God’s mighty miracles, our faith will be strengthened and stretched. We will find it easier to resist temptation. We will be more likely to trust and obey. We will marinade our minds with thankfulness. We will cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
May it never be said of us: “They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.” (Psalm 78:11)
***
As you reflect on these things, I’ve got two strands of thought for you to consider:
Firstly, if you can remember where you were when 9/11 happened, can you also remember where you were when you first found faith in Jesus? If 9/11 is easy to remember because it’s collectively recalled, who could you connect with to collectively recount God’s works and wonders, perhaps in your church or community?
Secondly, in what ways has God intervened and acted, either in your own life or in the lives of others? How are you guarding against forgetting what he has done? What steps would you recommend for proactively remembering?
As ever, constructive comments are welcome below.
Also, one practical suggestion might be to submit your stories to the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, which I blogged about a few years ago, here.
(Please note: This is my ‘thought for the month’ reflection for September. You can find all my ‘thought for the month’ reflections here.)
Image from Stock Snap via Pixabay
