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Illustration for Psalm 77: Remembering God's Wonders

Psalm 77

Remembering God's Wonders

ComfortWhen AfraidBedtime

The writer cries at night and can't stop. He wonders if God has forgotten him. But then he does something powerful — he starts to remember all the amazing things God has done in the past, like parting the Red Sea. This gives him hope again!

  1. 1I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
  2. 2at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.
  3. 3I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
  4. 4You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.
  5. 5I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;
  6. 6I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
  7. 7"Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again?
  8. 8Has His loving devotion vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time?
  9. 9Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion?" Selah
  10. 10Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out His right hand.
  11. 11I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.
  12. 12I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds."
  13. 13Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?
  14. 14You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples.
  15. 15With Your mighty arm You redeemed Your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
  16. 16The waters saw You, God, the waters saw You and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
  17. 17The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth.
  18. 18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, Your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
  19. 19Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.
  20. 20You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

What it means

The writer cried at night and wondered whether God had forgotten him. Then he did something you can copy: he started listing, out loud, the things God had actually done. Remembering on purpose is one of the strongest things a sad person can do.

A little prayer

God, when I cannot sleep and I feel forgotten, help me to remember what You have done before. You have not changed. Thank You for the hope that comes back when I remember. Amen.

Memory verse

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.”

Psalm 77:11 (BSB)

It is a decision — 'I will remember' — made in the middle of the night when nothing feels true.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The writer cannot sleep and cannot stop crying. Then he deliberately starts remembering. What does remembering do?
  2. He asks whether God has forgotten to be kind. Is that a fair question?
  3. The psalm ends with God leading His people like a flock, though His footprints were not seen. What does that mean?
  4. What is a memory you go back to when things are hard?

Try this

I will remember

Write 'I will remember' at the top of a page and list ten things underneath. Fold it and keep it in a drawer for a night when you need it.

You will need: Paper and a pen.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)