Remember, Receive, And Remain

Sometimes it can be overwhelming hearing about yet another person receiving a cancer diagnosis, a mental health challenge, or any other of the myriad of life’s challenges.

I don’t know about you, but all I can think about is how I can help relieve the burden of each person’s pain. The truth is, I can’t. God can!

Ken and I know firsthand about the journey of challenges, as do many of you. We’ve been waiting on a surgery date for Ken to repair a hernia in his abdomen so treatment on the cancer can continue. It keeps getting pushed back, month after month! We are fervently praying that in June it will happen.

I’ve recently learned I had a hole in my heart that was causing TIAs and posing other health risks. Just as that was happening, I woke up one morning and could only see light and dark out of my right eye. In May, the hole was repaired, and this week, I’ll have the first of two surgeries to remove a very thick cataract. Believe me, I'm looking forward to that so I stop falling on my face because I can’t see where I’m going (lol!)! It’s true, aging isn’t for wimps!

In the midst of challenges, it’s easy to forget the role God plays in our lives.

He is Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals. Not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually, as well. Do you believe He can? One way that helps is remembering His faithfulness in the past.

In Psalm 85, the Psalmist begins by remembering God’s faithfulness. In verses 1-5, we read:

You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people  and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.

- Psalm 85:1-5

As we remember, we then can be open to receive God’s wisdom. Verses 8-9 says:

I will listen to what God the Lord says;  he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

- Psalm 85:8-9

Finally, as we remember His faithfulness and receive His wisdom, we can naturally have peace as we remain confident in God’s promises. Verse 12:

The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.

- Psalm 85:12

Friends, I don’t know what you’re up against this week in your job, personal life, or family. I do know you and I can’t ease any burden’s we face.

But as we learn in Psalm 85, when we remember, receive and remain, God will give us everything we need and more!

Have a great week!

Pastor Pam

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