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Jan 17, 2026 06:00am

When We Remember

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Tonight, I had the opportunity to hear one of my favorite singer/songwriters in person. As I was enjoying an Andrew Peterson concert, he asked us to stand and sing the song, Is He Worthy, with him. Because we were sitting in the balcony, we had a clear view of the audience below us.

There was a young woman directly below me in a wheelchair who was fully engaged in the song. As Andrew sang the words, “Is all creation groaning?” you could see her whole body—frail and broken as it was—affirming, “It is!” Then we sang, “Is a new creation coming? It is,” and it was clear that if her arms had been able to rise, they would have been cheering. And if her feet and legs could have sustained her, I’m pretty sure she would have been dancing.

My heart was filled with empathy for her. I found myself wishing she could cheer and dance, feeling pity for her physical limitations. But then something stunning happened. As we sang, “Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? It is,” I halfway expected her to disengage. Surely—with all the hardship and disability that marked her life—she would struggle to see and acknowledge the glory of God as a light in her world.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she took on a prayerful, worshipful posture, and it hit me like a ton of bricks: this young woman, with her broken body and chronic suffering, seemed more able and willing to see God’s glory—and to give Him the glory He deserves—than many of us with healthy bodies and comfortable lives.

As I pondered these things, I heard the final phrase of the verse ring out as the audience sang, “Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? It is.” I could tell by her joyful, affirmative response that times of remembrance brought her comfort. In that moment, the idea of remembrance brought conviction to my own heart, as I often find myself too busy—pursuing other desires or solving problems in my own strength—to pause and remember Him as I should.

It’s amazing how many passages in God’s Word speak about remembering who God is and why He is worthy of our remembrance. As far back as Deuteronomy 8:2, God commanded the Israelites to remember the way He led them through the wilderness. He wanted them to remember His faithfulness and guidance, but also to remember that He led them there to test them and teach them complete dependence on Him—because He was worthy of their trust.

Psalm 103 opens with these words: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” The rest of the chapter then lists those benefits—His mercy, healing, redemption, lovingkindness, justice for the oppressed, and the removal of our sins as far as the east is from the west—giving us abundant reasons to remember and praise Him.

Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, encourages us to remember God’s laws, commands, and statutes so that we may walk as obedient children who delight in His Word. This psalm reminds us that delighting in God’s law keeps us from desiring worthless things and teaches us to look to Him as our portion and security—more precious than silver or gold.

Ecclesiastes 12 urges us to remember God and seek Him early because we do not know the day of our death or what lies ahead. The author reminds us that worldly pleasures fade and that nothing in life is as lasting or meaningful as seeking God.

In First Corinthians 11:24–32, Jesus Himself calls us to remember His sacrifice. He urges us to remember so that we are humbled, confess our sins, and trust fully in His righteousness rather than our own. This remembrance is meant to be habitual—so we continually return to His ways and remain in fellowship with Him.

While these passages do not exhaust all that Scripture teaches about remembering God’s light and glory in our midst, they make one thing clear: when we meditate on the Lord—His Word, mercy, and love—everything else falls into its proper place. Troubles fade in the light of His promises.

That truth explains the vibrant joy of the young woman at the concert. She wasn’t concerned about appearances or opinions. She had made peace with the reality of suffering and anchored her hope in the love and mercy of God. She knew her ultimate hope was not found in physical healing now, but in the promise of complete restoration in heaven—both body and soul.

This experience leaves us with a few questions to ponder today:

What is it about God that I need to remember—things I tend to forget, such as His mercy, love, or sovereignty?
What changes can I make to be more intentional about remembering Him—through His Word, prayer, journaling, or reflecting on His work in my life?