God’s faithfulness is very clear and easy to recognize when our prayers are answered the way we hoped. When our prayers are not answered the way we expect, we become so focused on what God has not done that we forget to notice the things He has already done. We see the unanswered prayer and overlook the prayers that have been answered. We focus on the door that closed and forget the doors God opened before it. We become so consumed by the present that we lose sight of the evidence of His faithfulness in our past.
In Psalm 103 vs 1 – 5, David speaks to his soul and tells it not to forget God’s benefits. He remembers God’s forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, compassion, and provision. In other words, he deliberately chooses to remember. Jeremiah 29 vs 11 is another reminder that God’s plans for us are good even when we cannot see where He is taking us yet. The people this promise was given to were in exile, far from home and probably wondering what would happen next. God did not tell them that everything would change immediately. He reminded them that He knew the plans He had for them and that their future was still in His hands. We may not understand what God is doing because we are looking at one part of the story. God sees the whole picture, His faithfulness does not depend on whether we understand the process.
Being grateful does not mean we have no questions or that everything in our lives makes sense. We can tell God, “I don’t understand this,” and still thank Him for being with us. Before we ask God for the next thing, we should pause and ask, “What has God done for me?” Think about what He has brought you through, the prayers He has answered, the strength He has given you, and the ways He has provided. Our current situation may not be the whole story but God’s faithfulness is the grace that keeps us standing while we wait. We need to slow down long enough to notice what we usually overlook; waking up with strength for another day, having people who love and support us, receiving help at the right time, or having peace in a season that should have overwhelmed us, etc., They may seem small, but they are little reminders that God is a faithful God.
What has God done for you? Make a conscious effort to take stock of the things God has done for you in the last while and take a moment to offer your heartfelt appreciation to Him.