It’s a strange phenomenon, but sometimes as people walk with the Lord over a long period of time, they somehow think they actually need God less and less each day. Psalm 71, however, gives us the words of someone who’s been long in the saddle with the Lord and still needs Him just as desperately as always. He remembers trusting God from his youth, yet now faces enemies, declining strength, and the fear of being abandoned in old age. Apparently, years of faithfulness have not produced a trouble-free life. I’d be lying if I hadn’t occasionally thought about these things, too, as I’ve gotten older.
 
But buried deep in the middle of this passage, we find a true signpost of real spiritual maturity. He says, “But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more.” The Psalmist’s worship isn’t built on everything being resolved already, but grows from remembering who God has been throughout the years.
 
Over and over again, the psalmist speaks about God’s righteousness, salvation, strength, and mighty works. He asks God not to forsake him so he can continue declaring God’s power to another generation. His hope, as ours, looks backward at a lifetime of God’s faithfulness while also looking forward in trust and hope.
 
Living between the times means we will sometimes pray from unresolved conflict and from less than ideal circumstances. Our strength may indeed fail, and trouble may come. Though we won’t always understand every part of how our story fits into what God is doing, hope allows us to worship now in hope!

We can praise God today because His character has not changed; He is good, and His faithfulness has no expiration date. Until the day when every promise is completely fulfilled and fully seen, we keep remembering, hoping, speaking, and praising.
 
In the almost sacred words of the old hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing:
          Here I raise my Ebenezer;
          hither by thy help I’m come;
          and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
          safely to arrive at home.
The waiting is real, but so is the God for whom we wait!

What evidence of God’s faithfulness from your past do you need to remember today? How could your testimony of God’s faithfulness strengthen someone else?

Father, You have carried me through so many dark days I couldn’t navigate alone. Help me every day to remember Your faithfulness when things feel uncertain. Give me the words to tell others about the good You’ve done for me and my family. Until every promise is fully seen, teach me to praise You more and more each day. Amen.

“Because God has been faithful, I can keep hoping as I __________________.”