Recall the Testimony - In Due Time

18 Jan Recall the Testimony

Posted at 05:00h in Faith by Caroline 2 Comments

Over the years, I have shared the importance of testimonies. In fact, I have a full post on the power of testimonies here. The reason testimonies are so important is because of what scripture tells us in Revelations 19:10, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Testimonies are what create the atmosphere for God to repeat the miracle. Testimony in Hebrew means “to do again.”

Even though I have emphasized the importance of testimonies for many years, today, I want to encourage you to focus on your own testimony. In other words, many times the focus is on what God did in someone’s life, but I think it’s important you recall what he has done in your own life.

In the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, we read that David too, recalled testimonies in order to stir up faith to beat Goliath. To give you a very brief overview, Goliath was a Philistine who was over nine feet tall. Because of his stature, the Israelites, including their leader, Saul, were terrified of Goliath.

Every day for 40 days, Goliath kept his stance. He caused much fear and trepidation and no one was willing to approach him to fight. 1 Samuel 17:32-33 says, “David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’ Saul replied, ‘You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.'” I’ll summarize it as this: David wanted to fight Goliath and he is told by Saul there is no way he would win.

But look what happens in verses 34-37: “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.'”

David knows he has faced hardship before and he finds himself in a new, impossible situation, one where he knows in the natural he would never be able to win. So, what does David do? He recalls prior testimonies of God’s faithfulness as he finds himself in the middle of a difficult situation. Notice those around him are met with trembling and fear, but David? He knows that the Lord who rescued him from the lion and bear will rescue him from Goliath.

I love what David says to Goliath in verse 45: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” David knew that he would win the battle because God was on his side. He knew the battle didn’t belong to himself, but it belonged to the Lord.

What was your last difficult situation you were in and what testimony of God’s faithfulness do you need to recall to help stir up faith for today’s trial? Recently, I was chatting with a friends whose husband had been out of work for quite some time, which of course caused a lot of financial strain on the whole family. I asked my friend if her husband had ever been out of work before and she said “yes.” I asked her next, “and then what happened.” She responded, “well last time God brought a job better than we could have asked for or imagined.” Exactly. We need to recall the testimony!

Don’t look at the giant right in front of you. Instead, as you keep your eyes fixed on the giant-killer, recall testimonies of God’s faithfulness. And while I have personally always emphasized focusing on testimonies from others, today I want to encourage you to recall testimonies in your own life. Before closing, I’ll share mine.

After I graduated from college I moved to Dallas, TX. I am not sure if it had to do with living in the south, being in a Christian circle or just because my friends happen to meet the “right man” at a young age but most of my friends got married in those first few years after college. My weekends were spent hosting and attending baby showers and weddings. At one point I had over 50 invitations on my fridge for showers and weddings. I share that with you to drive the point that I was the single girl! My co-workers at the time loved to tease me, often calling me the “27 dresses girl,” referencing the movie where the young woman is always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

I had a few really bad breakups and was often left heartbroken by men. I still can recall the heartbreak that came wondering if I would ever find my “right man.” As friends starting have children, I was still single. But just as I knew he would, God brought my now husband, Colby, who sure enough was way better than I could have asked or imagined. There are so many parallels to that season and my season of waiting now, especially as I drove the point that back then everyone around me was married and now? Everyone around me is a mom.

So, what testimony am I recalling today? The testimony of God’s faithfulness in bringing me a spouse. It was a season I was in for many years and one that was met with hardship and what felt like delay. But the one that reminds me how God knew what he was doing all along. Although I couldn’t see it in the middle of the storm, his plans were so much better than mine. His plans were worth waiting for. I have full confidence that what he did for me in my marriage he will do for Colby and I with our children.

So what testimony do you need to recall? How have you seen God’s faithfulness? What was your prior valley season and how did God lead you to the mountaintop?