Have you ever heard someone use the excuse “pregnancy brain” or “mom brain” when they forget something? Or what about your parents saying, “Wait until you get older, you’ll have a hard time remembering too.” And then we see that children are in constant need of repetition to remember right from wrong, how to play, and how to use their words instead of actions when they want something. So what it boils down too, we as humans can all be very forgetful no matter if we are male or female, what age we are, or what part of life we are in. We don’t have great memories. Obviously, everyone is different but I think to some degree everyone would agree with me that on some level we forget things, both good and bad because there are simply just too many things to remember. Then there are people like my husband who have a very unique memory and can quote an entire movie or can pick up a book and go to the exact page that a quote he liked from it to share with you, yet he can’t remember the three things I asked him to pick up from the store unless he writes it down. Doesn’t matter if we are passionate about something or not, at some point we will forget.
There are so many times over the years that I will be reading the New Testament, specifically passages about the disciples and think to myself, “How can they forget!” They are literally walking with Christ Himself! They see Him doing miracles right before their eyes, listening to His teaching, and have His example right before them. Yet, they still didn’t always follow His commands. Like, c’mon guys! Somehow while judging the disciples' actions to help justify my actions, I completely ignore the fact that we have the Holy Spirit living IN us. The very essence of God Himself dwells in our hearts interceding for us and guiding us. This is way more powerful than having God dwell outside of us and walk with us like the disciples. How much more should we be obedient to the Lord?
“Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:”
1 John 2:4-5
The last 9 months have been very transformative for me. Ever since my daughter was born, I have had so many ups and downs. But honestly, there have been many years in my life that have brought about great spiritual growth but nothing compares to what has happened in my heart since I married Nick, had my son, moved, and gave birth to my daughter. With each change God has stripped me down, challenged me, changed me, and is continuing to use many different situations to refine me and make me more like Him. Looking back, I am always so thankful for the change and growth but man, it is no bueno during the struggle.
I think it’s funny that we constantly want to become better yet we don’t want to put in the work to change. We just want to snap our fingers and be the person on the other side that we like a lot better. But we have to get uncomfortable for real transformation to happen.
A popular analogy I’ve heard is an artist sculpting something out of stone to make a masterpiece. He takes his chisel and picks away at a big block of marble until his statue is finished just the way he imagined it. Now I want you to picture yourself as a big rectangle block and God as the sculptor. He has to chisel away at the rock to remove parts of you that are not part of who you are in Christ. But with each part that the Lord has to remove from your life, there will be pain and suffering.
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21
One thing I have learned in my short 34 years of life is that nothing lasts forever. If you aren’t aware I have a 2-year-old son and a 9-month-old daughter and they are exactly 18 months apart. As I stated already, ever since my daughter was born, life has been a little challenging. Mainly because I am tired. Sleep has always been the hardest part of raising kids for me. When I am tired I tend to be less patient, kind, loving, self-controlled, etc... Basically all the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
Our minds often wander during those vulnerable exhausting moments. I play out every worst-case scenario and, particularly, the lie that this situation is never going to end. The fear of the unknown is what haunts me. But even in those hard times while rocking my crying baby, hoping and praying that she will just fall asleep so I can go to sleep, deep down, I know it will end. I know because this is my second baby and I have already been through it with one baby who now sleeps 11 hours at night. But how quickly we forget. We get lost in the situation, the lies from the enemy, and struggle with our own selfishness time and time again. Just. Like. The. Disciples.
“For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
So I am here to encourage you. We are human and we forget but if there is one thing we should remember, it is that nothing lasts forever. Not even the good times. But definitely not the bad times. If you are struggling with a chronic illness, it will not last forever. Maybe on this side of heaven, but if you are a Christian who has submitted to Jesus as your Savior, there is an end to your pain. In those hard seasons of life when your baby won’t sleep, I promise you they will sleep one day. Just persevere and stay committed as a couple. If the pain is too great and heavy as you mourn the loss of a loved one, I am sorry. Fall into the arms of the Lord and let Him carry that burden for you and bring your heart healing.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Life goes by in a blink of an eye. So how will you respond? Focused on your struggles and wishing they would be over already or focused on the precious moments that you want to last forever? How about we focus on the Lord? Focus on the fact that He is the only one who lasts forever.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
Jess T.
Prayer Requests
That we can be an encouragement to the people we talk to
Not focus on our struggles or how fleeting time is, but on Christ and how to bring Him glory
Zion's upcoming surgery
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