Stones of Remembrance

Lyn Thompson, Pastoral Care, CTCA/Southwestern Regional Medical Center

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. Psalms 143: 4-5

When we're in the chaos and crunch of a crisis, it's easy to feel completely consumed by it, like being sucked into the vortex of a tornado. It's all we feel, think, see. At that moment, the crisis defines our existence ... it becomes the sum of our reality. And, even worse, it often seems we're alone in the middle of it.

Fortunately, those perceptions are distorted. But, to go forward to the truth, we've got to force ourselves to think back. A little like those Back to the Future movies with Michael J. Fox.

That's what the man who wrote those verses above was doing. David had been promised by God that he'd be king of Israel. But his reality and current circumstances didn't approximate the crown and scepter he'd been promised.

Instead, for 12 years, he ran for his life in the desert, hiding in caves from the reigning king, who was bent on killing him so he'd never ascend the throne. A hunted man who'd served King Saul faithfully, been his greatest warrior as well as his most soothing musician, David was beginning to lose hope as he poured out his heart to God in this Psalm.

In the first couple verses, he tells God what reality is for him ... what his crisis is. He describes how he feels ... his spirit is overwhelmed within him; his heart is desolate. He's falling apart. His circumstances aren't changing, and he doesn't think he can go on.

But, then, he begins to think back, and instead of being sucked into darkness and giving up, he stabilizes.

What made the difference? What stopped David's free fall into feeling like life was no longer worth living, into desperation and feeling completely spent and alone? What enabled him to hold on, if even by his fingernails?

David began gathering stones of remembrance. Over and over in the Bible, at times of great victory, deliverance or miracles, God tells the Israelites to gather stones and make a memorial altar, so that whenever they see it or their children ask what it is, they can remember who their God is and talk about all He's done. God knows how fragile we are and how crushing circumstances can be ... how they can throw us into a tailspin, pulling us into a pit of despondency from which many never emerge ... or if and when they do, they're crippled for life. So, He tells us, "Remember."

Remember who God is as creator of all things, sovereign over all, savior, redeemer, restorer, all knowing, all wise, all powerful, all loving Father. Meditate on His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy, His compassion. Think about what He says in His Word, His promises, His character, His forgiveness. Consider the magnitude of creation, the intricacy of its tiniest parts, the wonder and inexplicable nature of it. Remember what Hes done throughout history ... and in your history in particular. Think about the people or resources that "just happened" to arrive in the nick of time, the jobs that have opened up, the accidents you've avoided or walked away from, the numerous times when you've thought, "But for the grace of God ..." Think about the times you've cried out in pain, rage or desperation for help from God, not even sure He was there and could hear you, but He could and He did and your life today is testimony that He did. Think about the checks and balances in your life ... maybe you ignored them ... maybe you heeded them, but they were there for you. Think about the major events in your life, the successes and failures, the things you've learned, the turning points ... the doctor's appointment you thought was routine but which allowed you to discover a disease that is treatable now but wouldn't have been later. Think about the blessings you've had in your life and all the evil you've been spared from ... the things that could have been much worse.

Think back so you can see more than the overwhelming situation you're now in. Look up so you can see above the downward pull of earth's gravity. Remember, so you can negate the desolation and desperation you feel pulling on your soul.

Once his emotions and thinking are stabilized, David asks God for several things to help him continue:

Hear his prayer quickly and not turn away.
Help him hear God's loving voice and experience His guidance.
Deliver him from his enemies because he's depending on Him.
Teach him to obey God and lead him in right living.
Revive him in his faith and help his emotions and thinking to not be troubled.
Cut off his enemies and destroy those who cause his soul to be so troubled.

When you're in the middle of troubling circumstances and beginning to feel hopeless and helpless, gather stones of remembrance from your life to help you focus on the One who's on your side. Then, like David, ask Him for the kind of help that will truly make a difference in your life.