Spiritual Amnesia

It’s a common response when things aren’t going our way, or we’re feeling the weight of the world on us, to have thoughts that God must have forgotten about us. It’s easy to begin questioning where He is in our circumstance.

Can you relate?

When you think of it, spiritual amnesia has been around since the fall of man. Flipping through Scripture we can see the Israelites again and again taking matters into their own hands instead of waiting on God to move. Looking from the outside in, it astonishes me that the Israelites would build a golden calf to worship, shortly after experiencing the deliverance they had from Egypt. How did they forget so soon about God parting the Red Sea and releasing them from the wickedness of Pharaoh? (Exodus 14 & 32)

Or we can look at the disciples who spent day-in and day-out with Jesus and they continually doubted or responded in fear, instead of trusting Jesus could take care of them. How could Peter doubt after seeing Jesus feed 5,000+ people, and start to walk on water, but then be so overcome with fear and doubt when he focused on the storm? (Matthew 14)

But we’re no different.

Our inner frustrations of not seeing God move on our terms can get us ranting like, “I have no idea how on earth I’m going to make it through this. Where are you God? Why haven’t you already done something about my situation?”

Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul. Forget not all His benefits.”

We forget.

We get so focused on the storms of life, that we take our eyes off of God, and we forget what He’s done.

This is our spiritual amnesia.

He hasn’t forgotten you.

He sees you.

He knows your heart well.

He knows exactly where you are and what circumstance you’re in.

Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” What great advice from the psalmist, to jolt us out of our spiritual amnesia.

God is always up to something even when we can’t see it. Even when it’s not our timing. Reflecting on where God’s shown up for us in the past reinforces our confidence in Him and draws our perspective back to reminding us that WE CAN TRUST HIM.

Remembering God’s faithfulness when He seems silent gives us a spiritual boost. It helps build up our spiritual muscle of faith – that we can keep remembering – and carry it with us into the next trial that will arrive…and then the next. That’s the beautiful thing about recounting what God’s done for us in the past, it strengthens our faith and hope for the future.

So, if you’re in a state of spiritual amnesia…wake up! And remember just how much God has already done for you and that He will continue to be faithful!!