How The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis tells us an important reminder on remembering and not forgetting the goodness of God
Dear Reader,
Can I tell you a secret?
Growing up I only ever got as far as reading The Horse and His Boy. The final two Narnia books were a mystery to me. For some reason I never thought to read these books. I say “some reason,” but I believe it was on purpose. I do not think I was supposed to read the final Narnia book until I really needed it. This year I needed to read it. I read it to help my heart heal and learn to trust in God even more than before.
Truly, I believe books can be hidden for a season. Some books (not all) are meant to be read at a certain time when the reader needs them most.
Last autumn, I finally read this book.
Of all the Narnia books, The Silver Chair is the one that feels the most like autumn. Autumn is my favorite season. I love the changing colors of the leaves, the cool, cloudy days, wearing sweaters, sipping pumpkin coffee, lighting candles, snuggling under cozy blankets, and everything else related to autumn.
The Silver Chair begins with the line, “It was a dull autumn day…”
This story follows Eustace Clarence Scrubb and his school friend Jill Pole on an adventure back into the land of Narnia. The king’s son has gone missing. Aslan has brought the two children into the land of Narnia in a quest to find him.
Perhaps my favorite part is at the beginning. I was chatting with my lovely friend about this. Actually, she is the one to bring this part up and has made me love it all the more!
Aslan tells Jill certain instructions to aid them in their quest. He tells her to remember and repeat the steps over and over again.
“Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down to Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind…Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.”
How easy is it for us to get confused? I think it is rather effortless for us to forget very important things, like about God and the call He has on our lives.
Think of the children of Israel. God frees them from their slavery in Egypt with miraculous signs and wonders. He feeds them manna from Heaven, water from rocks, and birds from the air. Their shoes and clothes do not wear out all the 40 years wandering in the wilderness. God provides for them in such incredible ways.
Yet, they forgot. They remember the time they were slaves and think it was better. They complain and grumble against God. When they reached the promised land, they were filled with fear and doubted God’s ability to save them from the inhabitants of the land. This was the same God who performed signs and wonders, who guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and who did the impossible. This God they did not think could save them.
How? How did they not believe? They saw God do all these wondrous deeds.
They forgot.
How easy is it for us to forget? There have been many times in my life when things looked impossible. Oh, this could never happen! How big this is, I could never bear it! I am not strong enough! It is easy for me to forget that I am not strong on my own, but my God is. My God is the God who does impossible things. God has provided for me time and time again. He has saved my life!
I need to REMEMBER.
I need to remember the signs in my life, in the Bible, in my family, and in my friends. I need to remember what God has done. Remember what God has said. Remember the faithfulness of God.
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
—Psalm 77:11
All throughout the Bible is the call to remember. So many psalms have the words of “I will remember the goodness of God. I will remember the LORD’s steadfast love.” We need to remember and remind ourselves of who God is.
I need to remember so that I do not forget.
I encourage you to write down, speak out, and read. Write down what God has done for you. You can write down your testimony, prayer journal, and gratitude journal. Speak out scripture over yourself and others. Read the Bible. Read testimonies.
Do not forget!
Yours Truly,
Moriyah
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P.S.
There is magic in this book as well as an evil witch who enslaves people and wants to take over Narnia (she is shown as evil and against Aslan). There are man-eating giants who try (and fail) to eat the main characters.
A beloved character does indeed die. There is hope because death is not the end for this character, the same as death is not the end for a believer in Christ.
Have hope.
It is actually a door…
Paperback full color: https://bookshop.org/a/126087/9780064409452
Paperback no color: https://bookshop.org/a/126087/9780064405041
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