“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” — Lamentations 3:21
Memory is frequently the bondslave of despondency. Despairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me”; and now…
this same memory restored him to life andcomfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like atwo-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and thenslew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we wouldexercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress,strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort.There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order torestore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of thepast, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to thebook of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine asaforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and torehearse His deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection whichis so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon behappy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, “the bosom-spring ofjoy,” and when the Divine Comforter bends it to His service, it may bechief among earthly comforters.
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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen