Written by: Natalie Yeo (Photo by: Marvin Ng)

As musicians have songs to mark seasons, we all have places to mark moments in life.

Do you remember places that filled you up with hope? A particular place where that moment happened, making it impossible to deny God’s tangible presence? Places where you learnt something indelible, only to re-learn it when you return to that same place? Places which evoke painful memories, yet eventually become sites where an altar is built unto God?

Benjamin Kheng, from The Sam Willows, said in this post, “I had a soundtrack to my life. Whenever I’d want access to a chapter of my memory, I’d flip up my iPod and press play, and I’d be flooded with the world of yesterday.”

Just as songs have become Benjamin’s memory indicators, certain places have become mine. Whenever I step foot into these places, a vista of emotions is unveiled like the drawing of curtains: brokenness and gratefulness, moments of buckling under and moments of awe-struck wonder.

Here are a handful of examples that come to mind when I think about my personal “places”:

Block 51, Bedok South Avenue 3 was where I found my grandfather after he suffered a stroke that robbed him of his speech and mobility (from the waist down); I was only five years old. The hall of Bethesda Bedok Tampines Kindergarten was where I found out that my K2 classmate and partner, Ivan Ong, had passed away in an unfortunate drowning accident. The gymnasium at CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School was where lies about my ability and identity were spoken over me.

City Beach Resort is the newest addition to my book of “places”. City Beach Resort was where the youth ministry leaders of my home church gathered for our annual Leaders’ Retreat from 2012-2014. To be honest, my first encounter in 2012 was far from pleasant. I only remember tears, helplessness, confusion, and escapism as I struggled to mend three broken relationships simultaneously at the retreat. I left the resort with bitterness in my mouth and excruciating memories in my mind; I felt like a helpless fledging caught under a boulder, with no hope for freedom.

With great unwillingness and uncertainty, I returned to City Beach Resort a year later for the second time. On the evening of May 25, 2013, God ministered to me through a group of amazing friends who prayed for me for two hours after our night service ended. During that time of ministry, God scrubbed me clean of all the dirt, pain, lies, anger, and ungodly soul ties from my past; leaving me “drunk” in the spirit and overflowing with love unconditional! I left that place no longer bound but free, and that was also where I built a personal altar to God, right at the place (see picture below) where He met and healed me.

(Photo by: Lemuel Teo)

Where has God brought you in your journey?

I believe God wants to take some, if not all, of us on an exciting journey that begins with a step of obedience to do one of these two things:

1. To remember moments and return to places

Take a moment to remember where you had an encounter with God, and if possible, make a physical trip back to that place. The act of returning always evokes a tender memory that you share with God and almost immediately draws you back to intimacy with Him. Like words written in journals, these physical altars shall help you remember the very times you were rescued or given grace.

As I consistently remember and return to these “places” where God has met with me, gratefulness begins to well up from within and flows out as joy and victory. These revisits always cause me to remember how God came through for me, even in my most needy, desperate state. I am certain that God will do that for you too, my friend. If you are still seeking God for your breakthrough, wait patiently, joyfully and faithfully because “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

2. To build or rebuild our altars

Let’s face it: it might be time for some of us to revisit our “places” to build or re-build our altars before God. My life verse (Psalm 51:17) never fails to remind me that no matter where I am in my walk with God, there will always be a call back to building an altar because “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Perhaps you need to come to a place of surrender, to find your true north once again. I challenge you to return to the places of hurt, strife or pain, and let God find and meet you there. Believe and trust the promise of His word in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” God can use these places where you choose to build altars to bring deep healing and greater freedom from those entrapping memories.

At the end of the day, you will find that because of the complete goodness and faithfulness of God, the places that used to hurt don’t hurt anymore.