The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Days Gone By"
The old saying notwithstanding, hindsight is most definitely not 20/20.
"I was at ease" (Job 16:12).
"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet" (Job 3:25-26).
Which was it, Job? At ease? Or in great fear, danger, and unease? Surely, we understand and sympathize with Job's confusion regarding his past. His painful experience in the present so challenged the man of God that he could not see clearly when he looked back. Truth be told, none of us perfectly see or interpret our past. Clarity regarding yesterday belongs to God alone.
"His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5).
What happened to us in our days gone by? Why did things happen? Certainly, we know many things of our history, and we may rightly interpret much. However, we can be just as sure that our analysis of days gone by does not perfectly coincide with truth and reality. This presents a great challenge to us. Indeed, if we do not see yesterday with perfect accuracy, the effects of our misinterpretation may affect us today and tomorrow.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart" (Proverbs 3:5).
This consideration suggests a primary reason we must place full confidence not in ourselves, but rather in our Lord. He alone perfectly knows yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Complete knowledge and analysis of our whats, whys, and wherefores belongs to Him. This offers a path of prayer we do well to consistently travel:
"Heavenly Father, I acknowledge my very incomplete understanding of what happened to me in my past. I also affirm that the greatest truth of my yesterdays was You. You were there, working out Your purposes in my life for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessing of others, and my own benefit. I ask You, therefore, to confirm me in those matters of the past I see clearly. Just as importantly, correct me where I am wrong, especially if my misunderstandings and ignorance are having a negative effect on my present life. Ever and always, thank You, Father, that "My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:15).
We do well to never journey to our past without the Lord, whether to thank Him for our blessings, or trust Him regarding our pains and perils. Our God is a redeemer. He can rescue us from challenging effects of the past, both in the fact they happened, and in our failure to understand their nature and effect. Our far less than 20/20 hindsight makes it vital that we entrust our yesterdays to our Heavenly Father no less than our todays and tomorrows. We will find Him perfectly faithful and able to weave our days gone by into His promise to coordinate all in the light and life of His eternal grace in the Lord Jesus.
"I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old."
(Psalm 77:10-11)
Weekly Memory Verse
"When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek."
(Psalm 27:8)
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