Looking Back

Looking Back

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Looking Back

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Have you ever taken the time to look back over the year(or years), to see God’s faithfulness in your life?

There are many days I wish God would clear the clouds before me so I could see where we are going, but sometimes it isn’t until I look back at where I’ve been and reflect on God’s faithfulness in my days that I get a better picture of where I’m going and who God is.  

I used to think that looking back would compose the story of my life.  But lately, God is showing me it isn’t the story of my life, but the presence of Him in my life that is the story.

Often times we spend our days focused on our circumstances and don’t take the opportunity to pause and reflect on God’s activity in our lives.  We get caught up in the day-to-day, the crazy busyness or the monotony and we tend to lose sight of God in our midst.

By looking to the past, we are reminded who God is and His ever-present faithfulness in our lives.  These reminders can encourage us when our days are challenging, when the kids are exhausting, when we aren’t getting enough sleep and work is deadline after deadline.  

Imagine with me for a minute a Rolodex filled with God moments in your life.  Of His guidance and wisdom in your daily decision-making, His patience given to you when yet another child is sick with the flu, His protection from your frustration and anger when you are late yet again because the kiddos threw a tantrum.  

Notes of God’s faithfulness in your life, in Rolodex form, journaling, or on your phone, these can help sustain you when the times get tough.  

Do you keep track of God’s activity and faithfulness in your life?  

I have tried may different ways to remind myself of His faithfulness.  During my recovery from surgery after surgery, I had a jar filled with note cards detailing God’s presence, His faithfulness in my life.  I called them “God Sightings.” On them were scripture verses God brought to mind, names of friends who stopped by to encourage, reminders of the many who were praying for me.  I even noted when God brightened my day with a sunrise or beautiful bird.  Those note cards helped to carry me through some dark days.

I found during this time, the “looking” each day to fill a note card with God’s daily faithfulness, kept my eye fixed upon the Savior and my hand firmly in God’s. Those note cards made each day more joy filled and exciting even in the challenges.  This practice helped me to be grateful during the uncertainty.  

Taking the time to look back give us the opportunity to express our gratitude to God for his faithfulness to us and our families.  Our HIStory is both a reflection of His presence and our growth as His child.

His faithfulness in your life, His story in your life, is a story worth chronicling. HIStory to be shared with others as encouragement.  A wealth of encouragement and love on display in your life.  God intended for us to share these stories with one another. To not hold on to them. Paul encourages us in Romans 1:11-12

 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

Let’s get together to share our stories of God’s faithfulness, in this way, we will be an encouragement to one another.   

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17-19a, personalized)

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4 thoughts on “Looking Back”

  1. We need God with us every step of the way, with out him our lives would really be difficult. Just need that faith in him to keep us going. Some times when I am really troubled by something, I think I will pray about this and
    hopefully it will be better and it always seems to work out. Just need to keep having faith in God.

  2. Pamela H Reynolds

    I sometimes find myself looking back to the past and come up with a list of “If onlys” – If only I had done this instead of that. I can’t go back – only ‘forward’. I pray through God’s providence I will seek His guidance and obey even though sometimes it may mean going through a “jungle” but He is with me.

  3. Your post was a God sighting for me today! It was just what I needed to read. Going to pull out some note cards and a jar right now ❤️

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