In 1953, A man by the name of Henry Molaison went in for a brain surgery to treat his epilepsy. During the procedure, the doctor removed a piece of Henry's brain that affected his memory. Especially his short-term memory.
In one recording, a doctor doing a study on the brain and memory asked Henry if he remembered what he did yesterday. Henry responded with, "I don't know." The doctor asked another question. "Do you remember what you did this morning?" "I don't remember that either," Henry said. Then he was asked if he knew what he'd do tomorrow, and Henry responded, "Whatever is beneficial."
I think I would've expected him to have a loose schedule. That he'd at least say he'd wake up and get coffee. Or maybe even call his mother. But Henry couldn't tell you what he'd do tomorrow because he couldn't remember what he did yesterday. He answered the questions the way he did because the portion of Henry's brain that was removed affected Henry's ability to make new memories, and since Henry couldn't remember the past, he had no context for how to imagine his future. Without his memories, Henry had no expectations.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your
miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all
your mighty deeds."
Psalm 77:11-12
When Abraham thought about the sacrifice he had to make in the future, he remembered the way God was faithful in the past. He remembered how God gave him, a ninety-nine-year-old man, and his wife, a ninety-year-old woman, the power to conceive a son. Abraham's memories gave him context for his imagination. Therefore, if God could do a miracle then, then God could do a miracle now. That is faith.
If we're honest, almost all of us have a hard time trusting God to do what He said He'd do, in His Word. It might be because we have a memory problem. We forget so quickly that He made the heavens and the earth, that He split the sea and delivered His people out of bondage, and how He brought life from a barren womb.
And even beyond the biblical stories, we forget how faithful He's been to us, our families, and in our own lives in real time. How He provided for us when we didn't even ask. How He protected us. So when a trial shows up, we become like Henry, unable to recall the past, and because of it, we have no expectation for the future.
Jackie Hill Perry states, "The truth is, the immutable nature of God is an anchor. It means that at no point in history or at no point in the time to come will God not be good. Or not able to move. He has and will always be a faithful and just and gracious and powerful God. Just because we change our minds every other minute doesn't mean God does. He is the same God today as He was then."
My encouragement to you today, friend, is to cultivate the spiritual discipline of remembering. That's what the Word of God is for! To give us sixty-six books worth of memories about who God is and how God works. And in return it will inform our faith, so that we can always trust the Lord without hesitation.
Dear Father,
I come before You in the Name of Jesus and just simply want to praise You for Your nature. You are good, faithful, loving, and so much more. Thank You for giving us Your Word to help us recall Your goodness. Jesus, help me to remember Your works in Your Word and in my own life, so that I can move forward in faith. I trust that whatever You have for me in this life will be used for Your good and Your Glory. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Your Friend,
Emma Staubs