Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious, or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. Then I said, “It is my grief, (when my negative thoughts take over) that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. – Psalm 77:7-14 (parenthesis added)
“Dear God: What have you done for me lately?” Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever wavered and wondered if God had changed and wasn’t so good after all? If so, you’re in good company.
Asaph was a fellow musician and Psalm writer who lived and suffered alongside King David. There were times when he and David struggled with God’s apparent abandonment. Even Jesus wondered about God’s aloofness and cried out to His Father on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?”
In 2003 during my intense battle with Stage IV cancer, there were times I felt abandoned by God to my pain and doubts. But successfully battling cancer requires a good long-term memory.
Asaph’s spirits lifted when he began to recount God’s past wonders on his and Israel’s behalf. He needed to view his current struggles in light of God’s history of compassion and deliverance. Then he could encourage himself that God was indeed up to something good… again.
The Lord often steps in just when circumstances seem most hopeless. Yet He always shows up in ways that are for our ultimate good or for the ultimate good of others.
So for starters let’s recall –
- His numerous and undeserved blessings.
- The goodness of many people surrounding us.
- The material things He’s given.
- HIS joy and peace which He freely gives.
- The cross where He sacrificially died for us sinners!
Lord, fill us with reminders of Your awesome deeds and with gratitude for Your history of blessings.
