The Beauty of Looking Back

Remembering is sacred. In the rush of life, when we move from one demand to the next, it becomes surprisingly easy to forget just how faithful God has been. Sometimes I catch myself praying for something new with a worried heart, as if the God who carried me through every valley might suddenly forget how to be God. Yet every time I slow down and truly remember all that He has done in my life, and in the lives of those around me, my heart steadies. I feel held again. Faith rises, peace settles, and gratitude begins to overflow.

This practice of remembering isn’t just a sweet idea or a sentimental reflection – it’s a spiritual discipline – one God calls His people to embrace over and over again in Scripture. Over and over, He tells us: Do not forget. In Deuteronomy 4:9, Moses warned Israel not to let God’s works fade from their hearts. Throughout the Psalms, David would remind his soul (and ours) of God’s goodness, mercy and provisions. And Jesus gave us communion so we would continually remember His sacrifice and His unfailing love.

God knows our tendency to forget. He knows how easily we drift into worry or self-reliance when the memory of His goodness grows dim. Thankfully, He lovingly invites us to look back, to rehearse His miracles, to hold onto every answered prayer and every moment where His grace carried us through.

And it isn’t just our personal stories that matter. When I look back at Scripture – at Abraham waiting with hope, at Joseph being lifted from a prison to a palace, at Moses leading through impossible waters, at Hannah’s prayer being answered with tears of joy, at Job sitting in ashes yet refusing to curse God, discovering in the midst of agony that his Redeemer lives, at David being rescued again and again, at the disciples watching Jesus calm storms and raise the dead – my heart is reminded that God has always been faithful.

Job’s story, which is one of my favorite love stories, whispers to every hurting heart: even when the sky falls, when prayers feel unanswered, and when suffering lingers, God is near, God is sovereign, and God restores in His time.

The same God who split seas and opened wombs, who healed lepers, restored broken lives, and vindicated Job after his deepest suffering, is the God who sees me today. Every story in Scripture is a love letter from a faithful Father, proof after proof that He never abandons His children and His love never ends.

Sometimes I look at my own life and I see seasons that once felt impossible. Times I couldn’t see a way forward. Moments of loss, fear, waiting, and uncertainty. And I see how God showed up, often quietly, often in ways I didn’t recognize until later, but always faithfully. He opened doors I never dreamed would open. He healed parts of my heart I didn’t even know were wounded. He provided exactly what I needed, sometimes at the very last moment, but always with perfect timing. He surrounded me with people who spoke life, prayed for me, and walked with me when I felt weak. And He changed me – patiently, lovingly, and completely – not because I earned it, but because His grace never runs out.

Remembering these moments humbles me. It reminds me that I am not where I am because of my strength, intelligence, or planning. I am here because God has been kind. He has been faithful. He has been present every step of the way. And if He was faithful yesterday, He will be faithful today. And tomorrow. And all the days to come.

When you look back over your life, what specific moments stand out where you can clearly see God’s hand at work? What are some blessings in your life today that once existed only as prayers? Which story from Scripture most reminds you of God’s faithfulness and love, and why does it resonate with you? Please share in the comments.