I was challenged this morning by a passing statement. What I heard was that God can make you forget the ‘bad things’ and that as Christians we should only speak of the goodness of God in life. I may not have heard it correctly, but it sure got me thinking:
What was meant by this? That all ‘bad’ things in our lives should be discarded? Forgotten? Ignored? That God is infinitely good and we dare not mention the hard times? And why? Is God ‘scared’ by the ‘bad’ times? What about His goodness through hard times? What about learning of His goodness through the hard time? Do we ignore the hard times or face them?
Try denying the hard times to a hurting world! The world longs to know where God is in the hard times. How will it help if we run around ignoring the existence of hard times?
Or was the statement suggesting that we are to forget the ‘bad’ things we have done? – That because we are forgiven we should no longer think of our shortcomings? What about learning from our mistakes? Learning through hard times? Helping others who share a similar journey?
Now, don’t get me wrong on this from the start – as believers, we have a lot to be thankful for, and God is infinitely greater than our circumstances. But, I really struggle to believe that we are to stay silent about our struggles along the way. How can we spur each other on if we are not free to engage the pain? I have known a great depth of pain and have seen the goodness of God and know His hand of grace. I want to share that!
I have learned many a lesson in the hardest times of my life. While I may want to forget, and have been healed from many hurts from these times, I am still left with the memory of them. The memories often spur me to change – to think differently, to care more, to see more of God, myself and others.
I think that I have come out of each ‘bad’ or ‘hard’ situation with something new, hopefully something positive. Circumstances change us and I often find myself presented with a choice in tough times: to forgive, to seek healing, to ‘press on’, or to mope, become bitter and resentful. Of course, not all circumstances come upon us by a direct choice (either our own, or by another). Yet, the choices remain – seek healing, press on or become bitter and resentful. We may not choose our circumstances, but we can choose our responses.
If we forget these things completely, we are left without a testimony. How can we share where we have come from and tell of all the good things God has done if we no longer remember the ‘bad’ time – whether it be trial, sadness or the perils of the past? How can we move forward and make better decisions if we are no longer aware of the consequences of certain actions? How can we rejoice if we can’t look back at where we have come from?
Regarding sin or ‘bad’ choices, I absolutely believe that God remembers our sin no more: that we are free from condemnation, forgiven and whole. In Christ, we have a new life and can walk in a new found freedom. However, it is the journey into the understanding of this forgiveness that propels us to change – to becoming the thief on the cross asking to be taken to paradise. In understanding grace, we look forward and ‘press on to the goal before us’.
If God chooses to remember our sins no more, perhaps I can learn from this and choose to do the same. That is, not to forget the lesson, but to ‘forget’ the eternal consequences, since they have been crucified with Christ. Rather than remembering my failing, I can remember His grace and press on to living differently.
As I look over my life I can see that the pain and sting of many a ‘bad’ or ‘hard’ time has diminished, if not forgotten, but the memory of the events and situations remain. I can testify to the faithfulness of God in that He has seen me through many a painful situation. His love never fails, even when mine does. He is faithful even when there are deep betrayals. He is present when others are absent… He is good. I learn more and more about His character through the good times, and the ‘bad’. In fact, I dare say it’s the valleys and the ‘bad’ times where I have learned the most precious things.
So, in the end I would disagree with the sentiment of the statement: I would not want to forget all the ‘bad’ times, particularly if it meant not learning from them. But, I agree that we are to proclaim God’s goodness – in all times and in all seasons!
His goodness is evident in the valleys and on the mountaintops, in our faithfulness and our failures. It is in the depths of pain and the heights of rejoicing. He is steadfast and spurs us on to new things.
May we never forget where we have come from and what He has brought us through. Let us celebrate the goodness of God and what has been achieved in spite of failures. Let us look forward and not be held back by thoughts that would otherwise keep us locked in the pain of the past. May we find freedom and hope in the journey and share that freedom with others!
As we go through ‘bad’ things:
May we allow God to take those sins and know that He remembers them no more
May we forgive – ourselves and others
May God heal and bring freedom where others have hurt us or we have kept ourselves from moving forward
May we share our journey with others –joys and sorrows alike
May we delight and share in God’s goodness! Remember all He has done!
May we leave the pain of the past behind and ‘press on to the goal that lies before us: to the new things ahead!
May we trust Him for what is yet to come!
I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living! (Psalm 27:13)
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