History

God is full of non-coincidences this week! My anxiety has been much lower for the past ten days, and I could point to many different factors, but I think the most important is history. I know it sounds odd, but when I went through and re-read my blog entries I was reminded so much of how faithful God has been to me. I could see how He's worked through so many trying circumstances to create good. It was evident the love and care He has for me.

Then I've been focusing on the first lyrics of the Watermark song "Who Am I?"

Over time you've healed so much in me and I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come Your light could still shine through
Though at times its just enough to cast a shadow on the wall
Lord, I am grateful that you shined Your light on me at all

He has healed so much in me, and in my darkest hours I've seen Him shine. These words have just reverberated in my heart.

Also being back in the classroom has reminded me that historically I've been a strong teacher, not perfect, but strong. I have a sense that in general I know what I'm doing, which eases much of the stress and anxiety of the job.

But all of this was just theory until we watched the Truth Project this week. The topic for this week's lecture was: History. Dr. Tackett spent this week explaining how history is one of our most powerful links to the Lord. He points to the many instances where God asks His people to remember His goodness to them. The celebration of Passover to remember how He spared the first born child, the celebration of communion to remember the sacrifice of Christ. Remembering is important to God because it is good for us.

He then discussed the way in which the enemy tries to shake us, by revising history, causing us to forget. Dr. Tackett points to the first instance of turning from God--the Serpent told Eve that she did not remember correctly what God had instructed her. He revised God's words and twisted them to create doubt. When we can't remember God's goodness and faithfulness, we doubt them, which is not a reflection on God but on us. This is why it is so important that we remember our story and the greater story we are a part of. Our history is important.

Finally in my "do not fear" study I stumbled upon this passage in Isaiah 51:12-16:
I, even I, am He who comforts you
Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies
And of the son of man who is made like grass,
¹³That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker,
Who stretched out the heavens
And laid the foundations of the earth,
That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor,
As he makes ready to destroy?
But where is the fury of the oppressor?

¹⁴"The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking.

¹⁵"For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name).

¹⁶"I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"

Fear comes when we forget, when we forget how Sovereign and powerful our God is, when we forget that He has covered us in the shadow of His hand, when we forget that we are His people. But freedom comes when we remember.

All experiences point to remembering my history. So right now, I'm focusing on my story and the greater story I am a part of. I'm trying to remember God's faithfulness and goodness. And I'm working on recognizing the revised history that Satan is trying to use against me. Our God is faithful and His story is good; it might not be safe, but it is good. I want to be a part of history, His story for our lives.