Reflection:  When I’m distressed and confused and experiencing trouble, I turn to the Psalms that are so comforting because they are full of the rawness of life and experience and emotion.  Surely that’s why they’re part of the Bible – God’s encouragement to us no matter where we’re at?

But along with the encouragement to truly express how we’re feeling we are also convicted to find a turning point in our lamenting and to choose to praise him – not because of our circumstances but because God’s faithfulness endures forever – in and through and despite our circumstances.

The Old Testament is full of instructions to the Israelites to remember their God and to give thanks.  God knew they (and we) would have short memories, so committing ourselves to remember when God was with us; to remember when God did show up for us; to remember God’s ultimate goodness to us; to remember that God’s character is always good, is always going to be important.

In the New Testament this same instruction to remember was among Jesus’s last words to us as he broke the bread and poured the wine – ‘Do this in remembrance of me’.  Remember and give thanks.

To remember and give thanks is at the very core of who we are called to be as followers of Christ.  It’s the crux of Christianity and the purpose of all our worship.  Why?  Because it’s good for us.  Because it causes us to trust and to truly believe. No matter what.

Question:  How long is it since you’ve taken time to remember God’s goodness to you?  How long since you’ve had an opportunity to eat the broken bread and drink the poured wine, and remember?

Prayer:  Help me to give you thanks with a grateful heart, dear Lord.  Help me to remember that in the midst of struggle and strife, you have always been good, you will always be good, and you are good to me.  Amen.