There are times it seems we will see no end, that prodigals will never be saved and stop living life outside of relationship with God, times when our faith is being bombarded, but in our anguish—and anguish it can sometimes be—we can look to the Word of God for direction.

Psalm 77 is one such passage. Asaph describes these feelings in a better way than I can write:

“I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

“You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old,
The years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I meditate within my heart,
And my spirit makes diligent search.

“Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His promise failed forevermore?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah” (Psalm 77:1-9 NKJV).

Then Asaph tells us the best way to respond to these times of despair:

“And I said, ‘This is my anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’
I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
You have with Your arm redeemed Your people”
(Psalm 77:10-15).

He talks straight to God and tells Him what he will do—he will remember what the Lord has already done, meditate on those things, tell others, and remember who God is.

We can remind ourselves of the things the Lord has already done, the miracles He has worked for us, whether they be in the lives of our prodigals, in our own lives, or even reading raindrops from other pray-ers. All of these things show God’s power and His ability and willingness to help His people.

We can remember what the Lord has already done, meditate on those things, tell others, and remember who God is.

“Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:2).