“Will The Lord Reject Forever? Will He Never Show His Favor Again?”

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalm 77:1-15

We don’t know what desperate situation gripped Asaph, the writer of this Psalm.

But we have all cried out to God. We have stretched empty arms heavenward. We have experienced troubling thoughts about God because of horrific circumstances. We have endured unspeakable trouble. We have cowered under the feeling of being cast aside. We have feared failed promises. We have feared a lack of mercy.

But a turnaround occurs for Asaph through a recollection of God’s great works. Thoughts turn to God’s love. To memories of what He has down. To His marvelous deeds of old. To the comfort of God’s faithfulness and mercy. To reminders of God’s wonders and greatness. To His strength and redemption.

Despair is real in this life, and answers do not come easily. Yet in the darkness – as we remember God’s glory, majesty, power, and love – our despair can slowly subside. Like Asaph, we can rehearse God’s acts, especially the salvation He brought through Jesus, and we can return to where we once were – resting gracefully in His mighty love.

Remembering the past can bring hope to the present.

Our Daily Bread – January 13, 2015