Remember

Psalm 77:7-12

"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."

This psalm of Asaph is an important practical way to counter valleys in one's life. Asaph calls us to remember the times in which God moved in our lives. The former days in which His spirit sparked our hearts anew. When I am in a valley I generally do not appeal to my intellect. Apologetics do have a place in the Christian life; however, in our darkest moments we do not want to hear a three step syllogism on why God is good in difficult circumstances. We want a voice to tell us that everything is okay. In particular we want one voice, God's voice to speak into our lives again. So, like Asaph, we appeal to these moments because that feeling is true, and we know it to be true. Many people think that remembering is a passive thing; however, I would argue that it is very active. It is choice. We can choose to be angry that God is not letting us experience him at this moment, or we can choose to remember that he is good in every circumstance. Valleys are opportunities to reflect, to remember again. They are also opportunities to be thankful for those mountain top experiences because they are gifts. We do not deserve them, so we are not entitled to them. Remember. Remember that God desires good for his people. Remember that He will never forsake us. More than anything, remember the cross, and the joy with which Christ carried it because our joy is found in our crosses. Do not refuse them. Welcome them with open eyes and let the world see that Christ is Lord of all.