Hitherto!

     Our Ebenezer.
     Ebenezer means "stone of help," and a very dear friend, Beth Page, gave us this one when Janie was in the ICU at the hospital in Greenville.  At that point, things were still pretty dire.  Still in a coma.  Still no evidence of when or if or how she might ever wake up.  Still battling fevers and lung problems. Still no earthly idea what the future would hold or look like for her or for us.
      But the words on our Ebenezer said it all: "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." (I Sam.7:12)  For He had--every step of the way.  Helped us, sustained us, encouraged us, provided for us.  Sent us dear friends and family who took incredible care of us and kept us going and even laughing.  Sent us amazing nurses and doctors and hospital staff who cared for Janie in every way imaginable.  And just kept sending us Himself.  Relentlessly sending us Himself.
     Yes, He helped us and helped us and helped us in too many ways to recount.  Thank You, Father. Might we never forget.
     And that is what an Ebenezer is all about.  It's a stone of remembrance--a marker to help remember God's faithfulness in the past. Don't we all need them?  We tend to forget so quickly, and when we forget, we tend to grow discouraged or disgruntled.  We begin to fret and worry or even panic.  Because we forget who God is, what He has done, and what He can do.  It's why we have to keep reminding ourselves of His faithfulness to us in the past.  It's why we have to keep thanking Him for His gifts in the present.  It's why we have to keep going to Him in His Word to hear what He has to say to us for each new day before us.
     And when we remember and thank Him for His faithfulness, His grace, His goodness, His gifts, well, then, we find ourselves able to breathe again.  It's as if those talons of fear or doubt or sorrow loosen their fierce grip on our hearts, and we suddenly find ourselves able to breathe deeply into His love for us.  Remembering releases the pain... and gratitude grows the trust.
     Just yesterday I read these words from the great  Charles Spurgeon on this very verse.  God is something, isn't He?  Hope they encourage you as much as they did me:
     
     "The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto."
      But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for--
     He who hath helped thee hitherto will help thee all thy journey through.
     When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye!"

     Good stuff!  Raise your Ebenezer and remember... and in remembering, be thankful for the past and trusting for the future.  On the cusp of this new year, remember:  He who has helped us hitherto will not fail us now... or ever.
     To our forever and ever faithful God be all the glory.