“What do I do with the flood of memories that hits me unexpectedly?” I feel that!
Those ambush moments – when a song at the grocery store takes you back to your first dance. When Facebook memories show up with photos from family vacations. When you find his old coffee mug in the back of the cabinet, and suddenly you’re remembering Sunday morning breakfasts that used to be. When your child’s laugh sounds just like his, and grief hits you out of nowhere. Those moments in the school pickup line when you remember planning your future together, dreaming about watching your kids graduate. The way certain dates sneak up on you – anniversaries, the day you met, the day you bought your house together. Even memories from the hard times can overwhelm you, leaving you wondering why you’re crying over moments you thought you wanted to forget. I remember thinking that I can’t wait until my social media feed stops having his picture in them.
God understands the complexity of memories. When the Israelites left Egypt, He gave them both the Passover to remember His deliverance AND commands to “forget the former things” (Isaiah 43:18). Your memories aren’t betraying your healing – they’re part of your story. Start by creating a plan. When those floods hit, acknowledge them. Psalm 56:8 says that God collects all your tears in His bottle. He’s not asking you to pretend these moments never happened. Instead, he is asking you to turn them over to him.
One way you can do this is by keeping a notes app on your phone, and when memories ambush you, write them down with this format:
“I remember (the memory), and I’m grateful for (the blessing of the moment/the lesson/the growth/the strength) I take away from it. God, I’m now turning this over to you. You say you work all things together for my good.” This transforms painful memories into stepping stones.
Create new rituals for triggering dates – do something new or purposeful on your anniversary, do not sit at home and spiral. The memories may flood, but only YOU have control over what happens next.
Remember, – every memory that floods in is an opportunity for God to show you how far you’ve come.
xo Kristi
