Holy Amnesia: Forgetting the Goodness of God

God’s love is solid, like concrete.

It ain’t going nowhere.

He is our rock. Our fortress. Our sustainer. Yet we question His provision and presence every day –

“Where are you God? Why can’t I hear you? Are you mad at me? Why are you hiding? Why can’t I feel you? Will you ever use me?”

A few days ago God ordained a powerful moment in the home of a woman from #theFives. Her son had medical issues that concerned her. As any mother would, she worried for the future of her child, wondering if the pain in his knees would ever cease, hoping and praying for God to show up BIG.

Boy, did he EVER.

I knew nothing of her story at the time, but while on vacation in Colorado God kept giving me a vision of praying over a home. I didn’t know whose home it was, but I could see myself anointing my hands with oil and praying. As the friend I was staying with sat down with me to catch up on life, she shared the story of this mom and said, “She really needs her son to receive healing! I want you to pray over her home.” Ah, confirmation of my vision!

“Absolutely.”

A few friends and I visited this woman’s house, ready to pray over her son and home, believing for a miracle. The small blonde boy, four years old, curled up in his mother’s lap as we laid hands on both of them. My husband, Joey, placed his hands on the boy’s knees as his prayed for the pain to leave and God to heal him. Another friend continued declaring healing in Jesus’ name, his hands on the boy’s knees as well. We finished by praying over the home and blessed the family, leaving full of God’s love.

What I heard from Joey and my friend afterwards left me speechless.

Both men that prayed for this boy’s healing shared with us what they experienced-

As the boy sat in his mother’s lap while we prayed (staying completely motionless), my husband and his friend could feel each knee begin to snap and move, the tendons shifting and adjusting as the words they prayed manifested in healing right before their eyes. God healed him the moment we prayed! Praise God!

Yet today I stood in my amnesia, asking all those questions of “Where are you, God?!” forgetting all too quickly what He did right before my eyes just days earlier! Don’t let your faith stand on your memory. Make your memory stand on your faith.

Oh WHY must we be a people intent on short-term memory loss? We aren’t the first- the Israelites, King David, Job- they all looked at their dire circumstances and began to accuse God of being M.I.A.! Never mind Israelites, that He parted the Red Sea for you to escape Pharaoh. And plucked you, David, out of a field to make you King. Oh- and how He blessed Job extensively before AND after the tragedies he faced.

He never left those people, and He never leaves us.

Do you find yourself facing holy amnesia, too? I know I am not alone. How quickly we forget the movement of God and begin to question if He loves us at all.

We forget the goodness of God when we focus our eyes on our position instead of His provision.

In my moment of mis-remembering, I was so focused on my current position of not “feeling” the Lord that I forgot He was actually there. Yet, this boy’s mother didn’t forget. She didn’t put her eyes on her son in pain and forget that God still heals. She stood on the truth of His provision and saw Him heal her son. She sent me a message this week to share the rest of the story:

I wanted to thank y’all for coming to pray over our house and my son! I know God sent y’all here to battle for us. God knew I needed warriors to stand with me. Since y’all left, my house is peaceful. My house is full of joy. My kids aren’t fighting like they were. There are no more bad dreams and we are all sleeping so well. My husband and I are drawing closer and seeking Him together! The discontentment is gone. I truly believe that God healed my son! Usually when my son falls asleep in his car seat, he wakes up with that same kind of pain in his knees that we have been experiencing. Yesterday we drove an hour away and he fell asleep. When he woke, there was still no pain! The last time that happened? I can not remember! Praise God!! Thank you for taking the time to pray for him! Thank you for praying over me! God has used you all in such a big way for our family, I am so grateful for that!”

Here is the good news:

God doesn’t condemn me for my forgetfulness.

Being the loving Father that He is, He scoops me up reminds me of all the love I really do receive! How He has healed and provided. How His love comes in many forms and the feeling of His love may not always be His primary method. Our food, shelter, family, job, church- they are all evidence of His love.

Don’t let your faith stand on your memory. Make your memory stand on your faith.

So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

-2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, MSG