As baptized children of God, we are bound to His promises, sealed in the waters of baptism and sustained by His unending grace. Yet life’s trials can sometimes cast shadows over our faith, leaving us feeling distant from God. Psalm 77, penned by Asaph, speaks to such moments, offering  Comfort through remembrance of God’s mighty deeds.

The psalm opens with a desperate cry: “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me,” (v.1). Asaph’s words reflect the struggle of a believer who feels distant from God. Like him, we may wonder if God has forgotten us: “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (v.9). But His Word assures us that God’s grace is not based on a fleeting emotion. In baptism, we are united with Christ and marked as His own—this is our unshakable foundation.

The turning point in Psalm 77 comes in verse 11: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord.” Asaph redirects his focus from his distress to God’s mighty acts. He recalls the exodus, when God parted the Red Sea and led His people to freedom (vs. 16–20). For us, this call to remembrance points us to the cross—the ultimate demonstration of God’s love and power. In the Lord’s Supper, we partake of Christ’s body and blood, a tangible reminder of His sacrifice and victory over sin and death.

We live in the tension of suffering and hope, the “now and not yet.” Though we may not always see God’s footprints (v. 19), we trust His promises. When doubts arise, we return to the Word, to baptism, and to the table where God meets us again and again.

Let us, like Asaph, remember God’s mighty deeds, hold fast to His Word, and walk confidently in the hope of His eternal faithfulness.

In Christ’s service,

Rev. Brian K. Thieme
Former Second Vice President
Missouri District