I remember having a conversation with a man I respect greatly. He was talking about how we have a tendency to remember our past as being so much better than what it really was. We look back at the past and think to ourselves, those were the good old days! But… were they?
I think we have a tendency to remember the past in such a way that fogs the present and creates unattainable expectations for the future. Why is this important? For so many reasons. For example, we remember the past, our childhood maybe, and think that that the world was so much better back then. There was less evil, less hate, less war, less worry, less ______. I don’t buy it, though.
Your Past Wasn’t That Good
When we look to the past and find ourselves coveting after what used to be, we are in a dangerous place. The problem with the past is that we remember it how we choose to. Quite frankly, the past could be remembered in a positive light or a negative light. Most of us, I think, remember it as something better than it was.[shareable]Most of us remember the past as better than it actually was.[/shareable]
We remember our glory days and paint a picture that illustrates ourselves being better than we actually were. We remember relationships being easier and less stress than what they actually were. We remember our worries as being less than what they actually were.
I do this myself when I think about my teenage years. I remember them being smooth sailing up to the age of 17. I remember much less stress, much less trouble, much less anxiety than what actually was.
We must realize that there is always difficulty and there always will be. We had worries and stresses when we were younger that were legitimate to us then, no matter how much we belittle them now. My past wasn’t that good. Your past wasn’t that good. It’s just how we remember the past that paints this unrealistic picture in our minds where we covet for what was because we are confronted with the troubles of today.
Your Present Isn’t That Bad
We’re funny people. Wouldn’t you agree?
Our present struggles always seem worse than our past struggles. After all, we got through the ones in the past, but the present ones are in our face staring us down.
What is your struggle today? What is the problem you face that is seemingly overwhelming?
As sensitive as I can say (and of course this may not apply to your situation, but it probably does), your present isn’t that bad. I know it’s hard. I know it’s stressful. I know it seems overwhelming. I know. I understand the feeling. At the same time, you’ve been through worse. You just don’t remember it that way.
And if you legitimately haven’t been through something as bad as your present, please don’t lose heart. Please don’t allow yourself to be taken over by fear.
If you are in Christ and He is in you, then nothing can shake your identity, nothing can shake your reality as a son or daughter of God. Your Father’s got you. Have you gone to His house for support? Have you let Him hold you, embrace you, overwhelm you with His love so that the present struggle is seen as a mustard seed of problem in comparison to the infinite love of your Father?
But, I believe this to the core, your present isn’t that bad. Your past wasn’t that good.
What lens are you looking through when you remember your past? How about when you look at your present? Are they the same. Probably not. But they should be.
The Best is Yet to Come
If you’re a Jesus follower, you have a hope that should propel your thinking positively forward. Not just forward, but positively forward.[shareable]If you’re a Jesus follower, you have a hope that should propel your thinking positively forward. [/shareable]
Think about how overwhelmed, discouraged, and defeated the apostles felt when they saw their leader crucified on a cross on that Friday we call good. Imagine the hurt, anguish, anxiety, and sadness they must have felt as they realized that all their plans with their Rabbi, all their hopes and dreams were shattered in a matter of hours.
But we know the rest of the story! We know that on Sunday He slapped death in the mouth and took over His rightful place as the way, the truth, and the life. We know that on Sunday He arose. He showered us with hope. And He left forty days later with a message of hope. Go and make disciples. Every. One. Of. You.
And know that I am with you always.
Never will He leave you. Never will He forsake you. If the relationship splits it’ll be because of you.[shareable]Never will God leave you. Never will He forsake you. If the relationship splits it’ll be because of you.[/shareable]
Be His child. Look to the hope and the sure thing that He is coming back! He is coming to bring us home! And in the meantime, He is at work in you. He hasn’t left. Not really, anyway. Live in the presence of God.
And remind yourself that your struggle today is no match for the future hope you have in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:18). We know that His sacrifice was sufficient. In fact, He said three words that should change everything we do and everything we think.
Present Identity, Present Reality, Future Hope
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8)
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