Memories

             When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (I Corinthians 13:11-12)

 

            As we continue to think about remembering, we are likely to find unpleasant memories. Sometimes, remembering involves poking at old wounds and seem healed until we look at them and discover that they have festered below the surface. Things we have avoided thinking about for decades may surface and drag us into suffering we thought was over.

            The passage quoted above isn’t the passage I wanted to use, but I can’t find the one I want, if it exists. The idea is something that Dallas Willard and others have described. As God works in our lives, He can and does deal with these deep things. The popular term for it is “healing of memories.”

        This idea shouldn’t have a sense of mumbo jumbo or magic about it. It can be miraculous, but it doesn’t have to be. It is a natural result of salvation and sanctification.

            I think of an incident that took place when I was a child and that – for whatever reason – haunted and harmed me for decades. Over time, I discovered things about the incident that reframed how I felt and thought about it. As I walked and meditated today, I realized that we need to do more than remember and record. We also need to ask the Spirit to guide us to memories that need to be healed, and that cannot be healed without our facing them. We need to ask Him to lead us to them, to walk through them with us, and to transform them in a way that heals us and glorifies Him.

            Similarly, we can ask Him to reveal hidden rebellions and things about which we need to repent. This may be a hard one, so here’s my prayer…

            Holy Spirit, I timidly come to You, asking that You would reveal to me memories from which I’ve shied away, thoughts of events that happened long ago that caused pain, and feelings associated with the past that need  Your touch. Where repentance is needed, guide me into it. Where Your healing touch is required, place  Your loving hand upon it and transform it to Your glory. Rescue me from things that have no real power but infect my soul, in Jesus' name, amen.