Many years ago, one Sunday morning, we were visiting a new church for the first time, when an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner, following the service. We gladly accepted her invitation, and followed her home. As we sat in her living room, we shared in a very pleasant conversation, getting to know a little more about each other.. She was a long-standing member at her church and was well-loved by her church family. Although it was very apparent that she was elderly, her speech and expressions were vibrant, and she was very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and how much He had done for her, as she enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies. I talked a little about my own faith experience, and I mentioned how our two children, very small at the time, were miracle babies, and that I was believing God for another one.
She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and everytime he answers I just keep adding a new hat. And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I just take a look at that hat rack, and I see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, some that I may have even forgotten, and I am encouraged that he did it before and he’ll do it again.” I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life.
Now, when I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…
“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37
The lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)
Has it been a while since you took a look at your own hat rack? Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past… Just take a look back, and like David be fully persuaded that God will do it again.
Thank you for this wonderful, thought provoking post. Given the circumstances my wife is enduring just now at her workplace, this fits right in with all of the prayer going on here. :)
I love the story of your present day reminder of what God can do and the biblical example of David. Let us not forget that God will give us the desires of our hearts. He has done it before let us remember He will do it again. Thank you for reminding us.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
the Bible does say we have a short memory when it comes to remembering the Good He’s Done for us, and we all need a mental “hat rack”
I like it when older Christians share wisdom with the younger ones…bless them. And bless you for sharing this with us! ~ Wendy
Wonderful story – thanks!
The advantage of old age is that your hindsight gets better…:)