Finding Hope in Silence: Remembering God's Faithfulness

Devotional

Day 1: Crying Out to God in the Midst of Silence

When you find yourself in deep distress, it is both honest and faithful to cry out to God, even when it feels like He is silent or distant. The psalmist Asaph models a raw and vulnerable approach, refusing to hide his pain or pretend everything is fine; instead, he stretches out his hand to God, persistently seeking comfort and refusing to give up, even when no answer seems to come. This kind of reaching is not a sign of weak faith, but of a determined heart that knows God hears, even when He seems quiet. [07:42]

Psalm 77:1-4 (ESV)
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Reflection: When was the last time you were completely honest with God about your pain or confusion? What would it look like to bring your unfiltered feelings to Him in prayer today?

Day 2: Wrestling with Doubt and Unanswered Questions

In seasons of hardship, it is natural to wrestle with deep questions about God’s love, faithfulness, and presence—questions that may seem almost irreverent, but are actually a sign of a searching heart. Asaph voices his doubts and fears, asking if God’s steadfast love has ceased or if His promises have failed, showing that faith is not the absence of questions but the willingness to bring them before God. Even when what you know about God is at odds with what you feel, you are invited to bring your honest struggles to Him, trusting that He can handle your doubts. [13:17]

Psalm 77:5-9 (ESV)
I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”

Reflection: What is one hard question or doubt about God that you’ve been afraid to voice? Can you take a moment today to bring that question honestly before Him?

Day 3: Choosing to Remember God’s Faithfulness

There is a turning point when you move from passively remembering your pain to actively choosing to recall God’s faithfulness and mighty works. Asaph shifts from being overwhelmed by his distress to intentionally meditating on God’s past deeds, especially His deliverance and wonders for His people. This act of choosing to remember is a spiritual discipline that can reorient your heart from despair to hope, reminding you that God’s track record is perfect and He has never failed. [16:47]

Psalm 77:10-15 (ESV)
Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Reflection: What is one specific way God has shown His faithfulness to you in the past? How can you intentionally recall and give thanks for that today?

Day 4: God’s Presence Even When Unseen

Even when God’s footprints are invisible and His voice is silent, He is still present and at work, leading and caring for His people. Asaph remembers how God led Israel through the Red Sea, even though His path was hidden, and this gives him confidence that God is still guiding him now. You may not always see or feel God’s presence, but you can trust that He is with you, working in ways you may not understand, and leading you through the deep waters. [18:47]

Psalm 77:16-20 (ESV)
When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel God is absent or silent? How might you trust that He is still present and leading you, even when you cannot see His footprints?

Day 5: Building an Altar of Remembrance

One practical way to sustain hope and faith is to create tangible reminders—“altars”—of God’s faithfulness in your life. Just as the people of Israel built physical altars to remember God’s promises, you are encouraged to find creative, accessible ways to mark and recall what God has done for you, whether through journaling, photos, notes, or other reminders. These altars serve as anchors for your soul, helping you reach for hope in times of trouble and reminding you that God’s faithfulness endures. [28:44]

Joshua 4:6-7 (ESV)
“That this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Reflection: What is one physical or creative way you can “build an altar” this week to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in your life?

Sermon Summary

Life often brings us to moments where we cry out to God, longing for comfort, but are met with silence. In these seasons, it can feel as though God is distant or even absent, and our prayers seem to go unanswered. Psalm 77 gives voice to this struggle through the experience of Asaph, who, despite his role as a worship leader and his deep faith, finds himself in a place of deep distress and unanswered prayers. He stretches out his hand to God, refusing to give up, yet finds no immediate relief. This honest lament is not just a personal cry, but a song meant for the whole community—a reminder that these struggles are not unique to any one of us.

Asaph’s journey in the psalm moves from raw, unfiltered remembrance of pain and confusion to a deliberate, intentional act of remembering God’s faithfulness. The Hebrew language distinguishes between these two types of remembering: one is passive, where memories of God and past experiences come unbidden and often bring more pain; the other is active, a choice to recall God’s mighty deeds and steadfast love. Asaph chooses to shift his focus from his present feelings to God’s proven track record—His faithfulness in delivering Israel, His wonders, and His presence even when unseen.

This shift does not erase the pain, but it transforms Asaph’s perspective. By choosing to remember God’s faithfulness, hope is renewed. The psalm ends not with all the answers, but with a deepened trust in God’s character and a recognition that God’s presence is real, even when His footprints are unseen. The encouragement is to be honest about our struggles, but not to let our feelings dictate our faith. Instead, we are called to build “altars of remembrance”—tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness in our lives, whether through journaling, photos, or other creative means. These reminders help us reach for hope when we are tempted to despair, anchoring us in the truth that God has never failed us and will not start now.

Key Takeaways

1. Honest lament is a vital part of faith. Asaph’s willingness to cry out to God and voice his doubts and pain shows that God welcomes our raw emotions. We do not need to hide our struggles or pretend to be okay; instead, we can bring our full selves before God, trusting that He hears us even in the silence. [04:30]
2. There is a difference between passive and active remembrance. Painful memories and questions may come unbidden, but we are invited to intentionally recall God’s faithfulness. This act of choosing to remember is a spiritual discipline that can shift our focus from our circumstances to God’s unchanging character. [15:11]
3. God’s faithfulness is proven by His track record, not by our current feelings. When we look back at how God has acted in history and in our own lives, we see a pattern of steadfast love and reliability. Even when we cannot see His footprints in the present, we can trust that He is still at work. [16:47]
4. Hope is renewed when we remember what God has done. Deliberately recalling God’s past interventions gives us courage and peace for the present and future. This hope is not wishful thinking, but a confidence rooted in God’s unbroken promises and His history of deliverance. [22:52]
5. Building “altars of remembrance” helps anchor our faith. Creating physical or tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness—whether through journaling, photos, or notes—gives us something to reach for in times of doubt. These reminders serve as anchors, helping us to hold on to God’s promises when our feelings waver. [28:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:40] - Introduction and Personal Story
[02:30] - Struggling with Silence from God
[04:30] - Reading Psalm 77:1-9
[05:15] - Context: Asaph and the Ark of the Covenant
[06:47] - The Corporate Nature of Lament
[07:42] - Reaching for God in Desperation
[08:55] - When Remembering God Feels Worse
[10:05] - The Meaning of “Remember” in Hebrew
[12:05] - Wrestling with Deep Questions
[13:17] - The Tension Between Knowledge and Feeling
[14:13] - The Shift: Choosing to Remember
[15:11] - Two Types of Remembrance
[16:11] - Meditating on God’s Mighty Deeds
[16:47] - God’s Track Record of Faithfulness
[18:21] - God’s Presence in the Unseen
[20:40] - Three Points for Responding to Hardship
[22:52] - The Playground Story: Trusting the Father
[25:08] - How to Build an Altar of Remembrance
[28:44] - Closing and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 77 (ESV) — Read the whole psalm together, but especially focus on verses 1-20.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 77:1-9, what emotions and questions does Asaph express as he cries out to God?
What is the difference between the two types of “remembering” that Asaph experiences in this psalm?
According to verses 16-20, how does Asaph describe God’s actions in the past, and what is significant about the phrase “your footprints were unseen”?
What are some ways Asaph’s focus shifts throughout the psalm—from the beginning to the end?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God sometimes seems silent or distant when we are in distress, as Asaph describes? What does this silence do to Asaph’s faith?
How does the act of intentionally remembering God’s faithfulness (rather than just passively recalling memories) change Asaph’s perspective and hope?
What does it mean that God’s “footprints were unseen” (v. 19)? How can God be present even when we don’t feel or see Him?
The sermon mentions that lament is not just personal but also corporate. Why is it important for the whole community to be honest about struggles and to lament together?

Application Questions

Asaph is honest with God about his pain and doubts. When was the last time you were truly honest with God about your struggles? What holds you back from being real with Him?
The sermon talks about two types of remembering: passive (memories that just come) and active (choosing to remember God’s faithfulness). Which type do you find yourself doing more often? How can you practice active remembrance this week?
Think about a time when you felt God was silent or absent. Looking back, can you see any ways He was actually present or working, even if you didn’t notice at the time?
The idea of building “altars of remembrance” was suggested—like journaling, photos, or notes. What is one practical way you could create a reminder of God’s faithfulness in your life this week?
When you are overwhelmed by negative feelings or memories, what helps you shift your focus back to God’s character and promises? Is there a specific verse, song, or practice that helps you?
The psalm ends with trust, not with all the answers. How can you learn to trust God’s character even when you don’t have clarity or solutions to your problems?
Who in your life could benefit from hearing about God’s faithfulness in your story? How might you share your “altar of remembrance” with someone else this week?

Sermon Clips

This is what interests me is not only does it seem like God's not answering, but it seems like things are actually getting worse as he's remembering God. He's remembering God and he moans and he's trying to meditate on the Lord. And yet it's like, God, nothing is happening. It's actually feeling worse. [00:09:31] (21 seconds) #WorseningFaithStruggles

He seems so focused on what he's feeling, but I want us to, I want us to focus on the word remember here. When it, when it's used in three, the, the Hebrew word used for remember here is eskera, the Hebrew word. But when they use eskera to remember, they don't just mean to remember something or to recall an event. This word is specifically used to describe a passive and unfiltered remembrance. [00:10:05] (35 seconds) #PassivePainfulRemembrance

So he's asking stuff like, is your steadfast love ceasing? Is this compassionate God? God? God? not compassionate, right? I don't keep promises. Those are the words from a promise breaking or a promise keeping God, right? Like it doesn't, something doesn't really add up here. The point of steadfast love is that it is steadfast, that he is faithful, that he is compassionate. He does hear me and love me. [00:13:10] (37 seconds) #QuestioningSteadfastLove

Now here's the interesting thing. He is remembering the Lord here, but there's a different Hebrew word used for remember. The first one was eskorah, but the Hebrew word used here is eskor. And when they use eskor as applied here, eskor usually means to refer to actively remembrance or intentionally recalling something. So it's choosing to recall or choosing to remember. [00:14:38] (33 seconds) #ActiveFaithfulRemembrance

Eskorah is I will remember that painful moment when it pops into my head. And then you have eskor, I will remember God's faithfulness by choosing to think about what he has done. These two different remembers. And so Asaph, as per verse 10, what we start to see is he's choosing to remember God's faithfulness. He's choosing to remember everything that God has done for him. This is a huge shift. [00:15:27] (32 seconds) #ChoosingFaithOverFeeling

So his focus now isn't on what he's feeling. It's on everything that God has done for him and his people up to that point. Specifically, the Exodus, which was God freeing his people from the Egyptians. And so he's holding on this track record of God. And ultimately, I like to think of faithfulness as God's track record, right? It's thinking about everything God has done, and from what he has done, you can tell whether he is trustworthy or not. [00:16:30] (36 seconds) #GodsFaithfulTrackRecord

If God's faithfulness was a credit score, he would have like an 850, right? Perfect score. But he's never late. God is trustworthy. He has this perfect record. Always shows up. And so this is affirming. He's holding on that God really is faithful. He is reliable because he's delivered our people from Egypt. He does never fail us. [00:17:12] (27 seconds) #NatureReflectsDivinePower

What I love about this section is he's naming stuff like the water, like the water was afraid. The earth was, is trembling. And his lightning was lighting up the world. And he's painting a picture that not only is God. It's nothing else you try to die. I love that. I love that. lord of all of these things but he actually is present in all of these things and he's present even when at times it doesn't even feel like it right like verse verse 19 it's his footprints were unseen. [00:18:54] (37 seconds) #InvisibleFootprintsFaith

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does active remembrance of God's deeds involve?

How can believers respond to God's silence during distress?

What role does faith in God's power play in lament?