Exodus 20:24b: “Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there.”
Where are the places that I am reminded of who God is?
We see that many times there are events in the Bible that represent what goes on in our hearts, minds, and souls. Where are the places my soul has been reminded of who God is? My soul is reminded of who God is when I am in great need and He comes through. When my heart is broken and He comforts me. When I am in crisis and He is my refuge. When I am drowning in despair and He lifts me up. When my heart can’t bear the circumstance and I know I need God, He is there.
Are we supposed to seek out pain, despair, and heartbreak so that we can be reminded of who God is? While we are promised that we will have suffering, and it is true we can encounter God there, I do not believe that’s what God is telling us. I think it comes down to our hearts, minds, and souls. My soul is reminded of who God is when I realize I can’t do it on my own and I desperately need Him to intervene, and then He does. The reality is that I am always in desperate need of Him, whether I realize it or not. The difference is that on good days—sadly, most days—I haven’t believed in my heart that I desperately need Him.
I believe the reason this verse stood out to me is because God is calling us to recognize daily our need for Him. In doing this, our hearts will be reminded of who He is and how He comes through for us. We need to daily take our hearts, minds, and souls to a place where we realize our complete and utter need for God. I need God today, in this moment. The above verse calls us to build altars (places of sacrifice) where we are reminded who God is. In declaring that I need God desperately every moment of every day, I sacrifice a lie I want to hold on to: “I can do it on my own.” It builds an altar where I can meet with God.
I am encouraged to purposely and regularly recognize my need for God and to willfully make a sacrifice of my independence. I am also encouraged that good things do come from the times of suffering. Suffering is not something I desire, but I have a long list of memories of God blessing me in those times, and I am so thankful. It has helped teach me who He is.
God, help me to be reminded who You are: not only in my times of suffering, but every day of my life.
I wanted to close with this prayer I came across recently in a devotional:
From John Henry Newman (1801 - 1890)
My dear Lord, though I am so very weak that I have not strength to ask you for suffering as a gift, at least I will beg from you grace to meet suffering well when you in your love and wisdom bring it on me. Let me bear pain, reproach, disappointment, slander, anxiety, suspense, as you want me to, O my Jesus, and as you by your own suffering have taught me, when it comes. Amen