Does What You Remember Give You Hope?
The moments of our lives make up our memories and give us hope. They project us into the future. And they shape the way we look and respond to the next chapter of our lives.
Sometimes the moments hurt. Like when a s child holds a treasured teddy bear. They are engraved in our minds forever, yet often the ones we think will really matter seem to disappear from our memory as time moves forward.
But friends, moments are precious either way and I think that way too often we forget about them and what they say about the God we follow.
As I looked at my beautiful new canvas picture from Personal Creations (ever heard of them? Only my favorite place to order personalized gifts for anyone and everyone!), it struck me that in the day-to-day I often forget where God has shown up.
In the moments of weakness. When I feel unloveable, I can remember that on an evening long ago He aligned a girl from Phoenix and a guy from Albuquerque to meet all because of a baseball game and a girl with nothing else to do that night.
When I feel as though I may have set the course of events wrong, been dealt a heavy blow, and because of my choices, never have what I dream of, I can remember that God gave me this handsome man who would propose to me with the ring right inside a bite of my cheesecake!
When my patience wears thin and this marriage thing seems too difficult, I can remember that beautiful day long ago when the man of my dreams said, “I do.” I can remember the smiles, the laughter, and the love that overflowed on that special day.
And most of all, as I cry in frustration and overwhelm at choices I need to make for my children. When the hours are few and the needs many. When exhaustion is the norm. And when I just don’t know if I’m the Mom they really need. I remember those days when each came into our world. The miracles of child-birth and the miracle of adoption remind me God didn’t do this in random fashion. Rather, He gave me specifically who He wanted me to have. He knows me better than I know myself. And He knows these children are mine for a reason, I need only keep turning to and trusting in Him.
Inevitably, friends, our moments are precious. They are the bits and pieces that point to Jesus. To what He has done and what He has yet to do. If I remember the goodness of what He’s done, I won’t fear the future and what is to come.
I can lay my worries, my hurt, and my concern at His feet and trust that He will do miracles again just as He once has before.
If this is the kind of hope you want to create within your soul this year, sign up to join us here in the Searching for Moments Community. You will receive content updates, behind the scenes information, and access to the resource filled Library of Hope.
#MomentsofHope
In April 2015 my worst fear came to life in front of my eyes. My husband packed his bags and told our children goodbye, telling me he was moving out. I was that little four-year-old girl again, abandoned by my daddy, huddled on my bed and crying.
But in the middle of the night, a peace stole over me like I had never known. In my darkest valley, when I finally saw the face of my haunting fear, I also saw the face of perfect Love.
Sarah gets moments. The great ones, the in between ones, and the downright awful ones. And today she is sharing from it an excerpt from her new devotional book. I think it’s one that will bless you immensely. Her story is filled with example and redemption. And joy! Would you stop by her space and check out her page? And when you are there, make sure to leave her some good old-fashioned #MomentsofHope love!
The Link-Up
Moments past and present remind us of the power of our God!Join us at #MomentsofHope #LinkUp #hope Share on X
Now to Link Up
What I ask of you:
1. Share up to 2 URLs (to a blog post, not the actual blog) that resonates with the topic of HOPE. Anything that gives us hope for tomorrow. Hope for victory. The little things and the big. Anything that inspires us to lean into Jesus and let Him carry us through.
2. Important: If you don’t have a blog post or podcast that resonates with HOPE, join in other ways as you pray and encourage others with a comment or a prayer.
3. Please leave a comment on the link just before each of your links. Would you love on them well? Encourage them in their efforts to share the hope of Jesus. If you have time, stop by more than one sweet writer’s little corner of the blog world!
4. Of course, I would love it if you would follow me via my blog and/or social media channels! Signing up to join the Searching for Moments Community gets you access to the Library of Hope along with post updates and freebies!
5. If this gives you hope, would you consider sharing it with others to give them hope, too?
6. Please either grab the #MomentsofHope button found here or link back to me to encourage new linkers.
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So BLESSED to be featured today! Lori, I love the canvas idea and the way it anchors hope in your soul. Such a good idea, I’m going to grab it for our home too!
It was a fantastic post, Sarah! Your story will encourage many and point them to the greatest hope of all – the hope we have through Jesus! I really love my canvas. It truly reminds me of those precious moments God has given me!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I love that canvas- what a great way to remember all of the moments over time. Thank you for hosting this lovely place.
Isn’t it neat? I just love it! Personal Creations has always been one of my favorites. I loved getting my kiddos all the cute personalized items from bath towels, to lunch packs, and wall decor! Thanks so much for joining me here at #MomentsofHope and sharing the hope we have in Jesus with the world!
Lori, your canvas is beautiful! We need to remember those moments because they truly do infuse us with hope and build our faith. This was a wonderful way to start my week!
I’m so glad this started your week on a hope-filled note, Joanne! It’s easy to forget those moments, isn’t it? But you are right, when we remember them, they serve to infuse us with hope!
I love the idea of having a tiny monument in our homes that keeps us thankful for the milestones!
It’s been one of my favorite additions to our home decor! I’m not one to decorate with beautiful artwork. I love to use photos and personalized things that tell the story of our lives and serve as a reminder to all God has done. Thanks, Michele, for stopping by to share hope! ♥
What a tremendous testimony of God’s comfort and perfect love in the midst of the valleys and oceans that threaten to overwhelm us.
Those valleys definitely do threaten to overwhelm us, don’t they? I think it’s so important to have physical reminders to jolt us into remembering and claiming truth in those moments. Thanks, Emily, for visiting and for sharing hope here at #MomentsofHope!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
“our moments are precious. They are the bits and pieces that point to Jesus. To what He has done and what He has yet to do. If I remember the goodness of what He’s done, I won’t fear the future and what is to come” What a great reminder when fear arises within me
Hi Diana,
I’m stopping right now to pray that Truth drowns out the fear when it arises! Thank you so much for joining us today!
I love your new canvas picture! What a beautiful idea to mark the important days of your life this way. I’ve never seen this before so thanks for sharing, Lori.
It’s been such a fun addition! I love decorating with meaningful items so that I never forget all that God has done! Thanks, Lisa, for joining us! I appreciate you!
I really like this canvas idea! Such a great memory to have displayed and remember.
Thanks for sharing!
I’m loving this canvas! It’s such a fun addition, Julie! Hugs ♥
I think it’s always so important to take times to reflect back on all that God has done that might’ve seemed hopeless in the moment but that, in God’s amazing way, was eventually resurrected and redeemed, Lori. I love how you point out the many ways that God renewed your hope throughout your life. He truly is a good and faithful God. Thanks so much, girlfriend, for your authenticity, compassion and constant encouragement to us to look to Him for our hope.
Beth, you are such a blessing. Your encouragement and affirmations are all perfectly timed. I wish I could reach through this screen and give you a great big hug! Love ya BIG!!♥
Beautiful post – I love the canvas — it is a lovely and tangible reminder of all God has built into your marriage and family over the past many years. Sometimes, it is the perspective we need when the days are long and our emotions are thread bare. Many Blessings! xo
I so agree, Laura! It’s often the tangible that jolts us out of a negative, hopeless place and puts us back onto the path of acknowledging truth!Thanks so much for joining us here at #MomentsofHope! You are a blessing!
In hindsight we can sometimes see God’s rescues more clearly than when we are in the midst of the hard times, right? Thank you, Lori, for reminding me to reflect on the goodness God has shown in the past and how He invites us to lay our worries, our hurt, and our concern at His feet and trust He will continue to do miracles in our lives. Love and hugs!
Amen, Trudy! It is often so hard to see it while we are in the thick of it and a tangible reminder helps us to remember what He has done before which assures us of what He can and will do again. Thanks, too, for letting me know about the glitch in the link-up! I feel so bad that some were not able to link up 🙁
Hugs,
Lori
What a precious reminder to hold close to the hope our remembering makes in our days. Sometimes it is so easy to lose sight of that, so easy to give up what we thought we lost when we know that He is always good and always on our side.
Thanks for sharing this Lori.
Bless you,
Dawn
I love reminders such as these. Family pictures, mementos, words of hope all serve as reminders of the good He has done. When I remember that, I can be assured of what He can and will do again. I think it is a big part of the reason I love to decorate with meaningful items. Not just pretty items, but ones that remind me of His goodness and love! Thanks, Dawn! I love having you join me here to share hope!
What a cute memory picture! We often remember the day we met and our children as well as our anniversary. Beautiful! Thanks for hosting!
Isn’t it fun, Sherry? I just love it!