How does recalling God's past deeds help you trust Him in current trials? An Honest Cry from the Psalmist Psalm 77 opens with groaning, sleepless nights, and the feeling that God has “rejected” and “forgotten” (vv. 2–9). Verse 5 marks a turning point: “I considered the days of old, the years long ago.” (Psalm 77:5) Why Memory Matters • Scripture records God’s works as literal, trustworthy history, not mere illustration. • Recalling real events grounds faith in facts, not feelings. • Memory shifts focus from the size of present trouble to the certainty of God’s past triumphs. What God’s Past Deeds Reveal • His power: the Red Sea (Exodus 14); Jericho’s walls (Joshua 6) • His compassion: manna every morning (Exodus 16); water from the rock (Exodus 17) • His precision: prophecy fulfilled in Christ (Isaiah 53; John 19) • His patience: cycles of Israel’s rebellion met with repeated deliverance (Judges) Scriptural Echoes of Psalm 77:5 • “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” (Psalm 103:2) • “Do not be afraid…remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh.” (Deuteronomy 7:18–19) • “Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope.” (Lamentations 3:21–23) • David pointed to earlier rescues when facing Goliath: “The LORD who delivered me…will deliver me.” (1 Samuel 17:37) • “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) How Remembering Builds Present Trust • Past victories prove God’s unchanging character, so current trials cannot overturn His nature. • Recollection ignites worship, replacing anxiety with gratitude. • Testimony encourages others; shared stories multiply courage (Revelation 12:11). • Memory guides prayer: believers appeal to what God has already done (2 Chronicles 20:5–12). Practical Ways to Recall God’s Faithfulness • Keep a written record of answered prayers and providential moments. • Read historical narratives aloud; let detail make the event vivid. • Sing hymns and songs that retell biblical stories (e.g., “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”). • Tell children and friends concrete examples of God’s intervention (Deuteronomy 6:20–25). • Mark anniversaries of deliverance with simple celebrations, imitating Israel’s feasts. Encouragement for Today The same Lord who split seas, quieted lions, stilled storms, and rose from the grave remains at work. Every remembered deed becomes a fresh reason to rest in Him now. |
    |