Just Look Back

Life gets hard, and when it does, people tell you to just keep going. Don't look back.

But you're overwhelmed. You've bitten off more than anyone thought you could chew. Your enemies laugh at you. Your friends stopped encouraging you. And where's God? Shouldn't God have done something about this by now? Shouldn't God have figured this and everything else out already?

That's how this guy felt:

  My heart meditated and my spirit asked:  
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
   Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
   Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
   Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
   the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
   and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
 13 Your ways, God, are holy.
   What god is as great as our God? (Psalm 77)

This guy did something we're told not to do. He looked back. Not with a desire to quit. Not in doubt or fear. But in remembrance. Almost immediately, God transformed his perspective on his situation.

If you have time, grab your Bible and check the rest of this Psalm out, it really is amazing. God has shown up before. God will show up again.

If it feels like you're failing, if it feels like no one is with you, if it feels like God is letting you drown, just look back.

Think about the passion you had when you decided to follow Christ.
Think about how good the freedom felt when God freed you from that addiction.
Think about that miraculous event that you couldn't explain.

God has shown up before. God will show up again. You may not be able to see it right now, but that is often when God is closest to us.

God has shown up before, God will show up again. Just look back.