We watch the devastating consequences of this pandemic unfold around the world. “Where are you?” we cry out to God. “Can’t You hear me? Why aren’t You making things right?”
Turn to the Psalms and you see a similar sentiment. Following a horrific assault on Jerusalem, the psalmist surveyed the ransacked, ruined temple and despaired at God’s silence and apparent inactivity.
“We are given no signs from God;
no prophets are left,
and none of us know how long this will be” (Psalm 74:9).
Pretty relatable, no? What about this one…
“When I was in deep distress…I reached out for you with hands stretched out to heaven. Over and over I kept looking for you, God, but your comforting grace was nowhere to be found” (Psalm 77:1-2).
They were hurting, they were troubled, and they needed God to show up—now.
They could have ended their lamenting there, railing against the silence from heaven. But instead, they did something else. They chose to look back.
“But God is my King from long ago…it was you who split open the sea by your power…it was you who opened up springs and streams… It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth” (Psalm 74:12).
“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?” (Psalm 77:11-13).
Their circumstances may not have changed but their perspective certainly had. Remembering the might and sovereignty of their God gave them much needed hope to hold onto, and strength to endure.
If you’re struggling today, friend, look back and remember the God that you serve. Through even the most devastating of circumstances, though the heavens seem quiet and doubt rears its ugly head, we can rest in His steadfast faithfulness. For the God of then is still the God of now. And we can rely on Him even when we have nothing else to hold onto.
He died for you once before; He isn’t going to forsake you now.