Remember…

PSALM 77

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.  Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.   I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.   I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  

Notice the irony of the psalmist here. He is feeling down, overwhelmed. He even is remembering God but that doesn’t seem to be helping. He turns his gaze inward to see where the problem lies. Then notice verses 7-9.

Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

Stop and think.

That is preposterous! That God should forget His promises is laughable. Yet when we are in the doldrums, our mind might not be saying this, but our attitude does.

The prescription? Verse 11:

I will remember…

Remember! Recall to your mind the wondrous works of God! Think about answers to prayer in your own life. Rehearse His blessings. Consider starting a “blessing box” or notebook to keep a list of God’s answers to prayer and His blessings in your life. Then, on a day when you’re experiencing difficulty with thankfulness, retrieve a few and begin to thank your Father for His tender mercies.

Also, God’s Word is full of His blessings to His children. The Psalms are a real-life example of how to go from a complaining spirit to a thankful spirit. Try to read through Hebrews’ description of our Savior without pausing to give Him the praise He deserves—not possible!

So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed (covered over, faint, and feeble), remember.