The Dangers of Memories

We sang a new song today in church. One line hit me square center: "If my mem'ries take the place of you, Jesus, come." The last few days have been somewhat emotional for me. Every once in a while my past decides to haunt me. I dwell on hurtful, life-altering, turn-my-heart-inside-out-and-beat-me-blue words that were said to me...and I ache. Sticks and stones can break my bones but words? Words will kill me. While I've moved on and even healed from those cold dagger wounds, I still can't erase them from my memory. And unfortunately, sometimes those memories cause fear in me. I'm afraid that history, being true to it's nature, will repeat itself and I will once again be a lonely, forgotten, stranded, broken girl. But the song today, "if my mem'ries take the place of you, Jesus, come..." I've always known that Jesus is with me, physically and spiritually speaking. But I realized or maybe re-remembered today that Jesus is with me mentally too. He knows my heart, my mind, better and more deeply than anyone now or ever. And when those dark memories rise to the surface, my Jesus, my Savior, is there with arms open and waiting, with love unending, and He covers me. And when fear takes root and I wonder if once again I'll be considered unworthy of faithfulness, my Jesus is there reminding me that even if man fails me, He never will. He is the very nature of faithfulness, of love. It seems the ways in which Christ liberates me are unending; an adventurous, untamed road. Thank you, Lord, for this.