It’s Been Three Days: Have You Remembered?

Her eyes were frantic. She searched high and low for her pint-sized child but could find her nowhere. In a sea of aisles and overstocked shelves, her heart began to pound. Racing through each line made her feel like a race car driver. Except she wasn’t winning this race.

Those are the emotions my mom felt one day when we got separated in the grocery store. At seven or eight years old, I don’t recall the fiasco. But she sure does. She’s never forgotten the nightmare of what could’ve happened if we had not been reunited. I’d gotten distracted by the toys on the cereal boxes and she was preoccupied by her list. Together, we were unaware of what the other was doing.

We’ve all experienced this kind of nightmare. The one where we’re lost, parading around merry-go-round after merry-go-round, growing dizzy and fearful we’ll never make it out alive. As terrifying as these instances are, wouldn’t it be a miracle if we could feel this way when we’ve inched away from the Lord (even unintentionally)?

Jesus’ parents didn’t realize He was missing because they assumed He was somewhere in the crowd traveling home with them. It wasn’t until later that evening they realized He wasn’t among them. Three days later, they found Him in the Temple. His parents didn’t know what to think (Luke 2:48). Would you?

Though the moral of this story reveals Jesus’ divine calling as Savior of the world, it also teaches us another lesson–a lesson in spiritual awareness. How many times have we grown weak and weary in our relationship with God that we forget to read His Word or pray? Before we know it, days turn into weeks, and weeks into months. We ask ourselves, “Where is God?” when we’re the ones who’ve moved. 

Friends, I don’t want to go a day without being spiritually aware of our Heavenly Father’s presence. I don’t want to live like a lost child in the grocery store, desperately searching for someone I can’t find. Something tells me you don’t either. If we’ve been saved and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we know that His Spirit lives within us. Even when we fall astray, we can cry out to Him, because He’s never far away. Let’s remember Him often. 

Question for Reflection:

Do you find yourself going days, weeks, or months, without remembering the Spirit of God lives within you? Try this practice. When you look in the mirror in the morning, inhale deeply for four seconds. As you do this, mentally recite these words, “The Spirit of God lives in me.” Then, hold your inhale for four seconds. Finally, exhale for eight seconds through your mouth. As you do this, mentally recite these words, “Help me to remember you.” This daily practice can help us start our day by basking in His presence.