Never Forget

One very interesting thing about David's response to Saul when questioned about his ability to defeat Goliath was that he went straight back to the past victories. He recalled the lion and bear that had threatened his flock and how he defeated them, then he extrapolated or projected those victories to the current situation by telling Saul the Philistine would be just like the lion and bear (see I Samuel 17:34-36).

All too often we forget what God's done for us, or at least we fail to transfer the help, comfort, and miracles of the past into the present situation. Why? I think it's because we human beings tend to focus on our present situation. I know when I am going through some trial or tribulation, be it financial, social, etc..., it could be big or small, it doesn't matter, at that moment even the most trivial thing can be the end of the world. Often we'll even sacrifice things of the past and future by damaging long-lasting relationships, making foolish financial decisions, destroying our health, or possibly even ruining future generations' hopes for a better life, simply because we fail to take into consideration things outside the present...

But David was able to focus and say within himself, "God's helped me before, and He'll do it again." Sure, the giant was bigger and meaner than the other trials, but he knew God was unchanged, and would see him through just like before. God healed a headache, He can take care of this cancer. He mended a friendship, He can put a marriage back together. He provided $20 to fill the tank up with gas, and now He'll help when payments are 3 months behind on the mortgage...

Never forget the prelude to one of our most important and wonderful scriptures,  

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." 

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

This is a powerful scripture, full of promise and comfort, but take some time to read what the author wrote just prior. He was in torment and anguish; pain, doubt, and fear were taking a hold on him, but he was able to lift his eyes and speak from what he knew, that God had always been faithful and true...

Remember these scriptures the next time you're going through something terrible. If you're in a trial now, just remember that we can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (I Pet 5:7). That has always been true, and always will!!!!