Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us
Over the summer, I had a great time travelling with my family back to Scotland: the place where I studied and where my son was born. The last time we were there was 15 years ago and we have never been back since.
The old places brought back a lot of great and not-so-great memories. There was both joy and sadness as I recalled what happened. This prompted me to re-journal what happened during those years.
As I journalled, I laid outside by the pictures I took 15 years ago with those I took this summer. Scotland has not changed a wee bit but my baby is now a teenager and I am a lot older.
Somebody said, “The days are long, and the years are short.” Whoever that somebody was, they were wise.
As I continued to journal, I was amazed by how God has provided and guided me. Things that I didn’t understand back then started to make sense somewhere between then and now. I am thankful for the prayers that God answered but equally thankful for the prayers that he did not answer.
My conclusion: My God is good! He is surprsingly good!
Have you heard of the name “Ebenezer”?
No! I don’t mean your favourite restaurant or the city in North America or Australia. Try again!
Ebenezer is the name of the stone recorded in 1 Samuel 7:12. This was what happened. At that time, the people of God was attacked by their enemy. Seeing the imminent danger, the people of God approached the prophet Samuel.
At that time, the prophet Samuel “cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.” (1 Samuel 7:9)
God heard their prayers and they defeated their enemies.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” (1 Samuel 7:12)
“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
How do I know that God is good? I look back into my history. That’s why I journal, and re-journal.
Perhaps you need to put a stone on your office desk or kitchen countertop as a tangible symbol to remind you: “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
When you are in doubt, look at all the Ebenezers in your history and be reminded that your God is good! He always was, still is, and will be.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrew 13:8)