Painful memories have a powerful purpose

Back in the late 90's I played basketball with a group of friends on an outdoor court.  When it rained we often had to use one of the guy's squeegees to help remove the pools of water and dry the court.  With such a large court it often took a long time for one person, so I bought a second squeegee.  After a few years we switched offices and started playing on a much nicer indoor court and I retired my squeegee to the garage. 

Over time the squeegee went from being a needed item to prepare the court for lunchtime basketball to a nuisance that, even in the garage, was in the way.  One day as I moved it around for what seemed like the 100th time, I lamented the purchase, wondered if it would ever be used again, and wished it were trash day so I could throw it out.  However, I didn't, which was lucky for me because later that week I needed the squeegee to clean off all the water on our porch at home following a pressure washing fiasco.

This squeegee reminded me of our how God often sees and uses our past experiences for greater good.  Many times when we are younger we do and experience things which we may lament, wonder why they happened, and we often wish we could erase them out of our memories.  I've had my share of words that wound, actions that damage and destroy, and moments I wish I could redo or never do.  Sadly we can't erase these memories or those experiences.  We can't undo what was said, we can't undo the hurt that was done, and we can't remove the scars that we created or that were created in us.  

However, it is comforting to know that no matter the experience, God is able to use it to bring glory to His name and to lead others into a deeper relationship with Him.  The memory of a loved one in tears, teaches us to guard our lips.  The pain of discrimination leads us to a compassion for the marginalized.  

Our job isn't to understand all the reasons why the painful memories occurred.  Instead, our job is to wait patiently until the divine encounter is created for us to share our experience with others.  In the meantime we can enjoy the comfort of his peace and forgiveness for our past sins.

Scriptures remind us that God's grace is sufficient and his love unconditional.  Whenever painful memories trouble your soul, lean on that grace and fall into his loving embrace and remember: "Painful memories have a powerful purpose!"