Week of Monday July 20 – July 26
Helpful Reminder – Man as Chaplain
"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." — Psalm 77:11 (ESV)
At mid-morning on April 19, 1775, the militiamen of Concord positioned themselves across the bridge and waited for the British regulars to attack. The sight of the approaching redcoats, marching with their muskets at the beat of the drum, their bayonets glinting in the sun, unnerved young Henry Gould, whose nickname was Harry. Rev. William Emerson walked through the ranks to bolster morale, noticed Harry breaking formation, clapped the panic‑stricken young man on the shoulder, and admonished him: “Stand your ground, Harry! Your cause is just, and God will bless you!”[i] Young Harry took the challenging reminder to heart and fought bravely throughout that historic day, then went on to serve in the Continental Army.
One of the most important responsibilities of a military chaplain is reminding soldiers of truths they already know but have difficulty remembering in the middle of the battle. When bullets start flying, casualties mount, and uncertainty clouds the outcome, people can lose sight of what they know to be true. A good chaplain doesn't invent new truth for difficult times; he simply points people back to the unchanging truth they have forgotten.
That is exactly what Asaph does in Psalm 77. The psalm begins in deep distress. Asaph cries out to God but feels as though heaven is silent. His soul refuses to be comforted. He spends sleepless nights wrestling with questions that many faithful believers have asked through the centuries: "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His steadfast love ceased forever? Has He abandoned His promises?" Those are honest questions. But they are also dangerous questions if they become the final word.
Then everything changes with one deliberate decision. "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." Nothing around him has changed. God has not yet removed the trial or explained His purposes. What changes is the focus of Asaph's heart. Instead of allowing unanswered questions to dominate his thinking, he deliberately rehearses God's faithfulness. He remembers the miracles of the past, God's covenant love, and His mighty acts on behalf of His people. Looking backward renews his confidence to move forward.
There is an important lesson here for every Christian man. One of the primary responsibilities of a chaplain is not to provide all the answers but to help people remember what they already know to be true about God. Whether serving on a battlefield, in a hospital room, or around the family dinner table, a godly man reminds others that God's character has not changed simply because today's circumstances are difficult. When fear begins to cloud our vision, someone must gently point us back to the faithfulness of the Lord.
Every family eventually walks through seasons when questions outnumber answers. A frightening diagnosis, financial uncertainty, the loss of someone you love, or a child who has wandered from the Lord can shake even mature believers. During those moments, your family does not need a man who pretends to have every solution. They need a man who knows enough of God's Word and God's faithfulness to say, "Let's remember what the Lord has done before." Often the greatest gift you can give those you love is not an explanation but a reminder.
Asaph closes the psalm by reflecting on the Exodus. He remembers that God made a way through the sea when no way seemed possible. The Israelites could not see His footprints, but He was leading them every step of the journey. The same is true in our lives. There will be days when we cannot trace God's hand or understand His timing. Yet because we remember His faithfulness in the past, we can trust Him with the future. That is the quiet ministry of a chaplain: helping weary hearts exchange fearful memories for faithful ones until they can once again see God more clearly than their circumstances. It can all begin with a “helpful reminder.”
Helpful Reminder – Man as Chaplain
"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." — Psalm 77:11 (ESV)
At mid-morning on April 19, 1775, the militiamen of Concord positioned themselves across the bridge and waited for the British regulars to attack. The sight of the approaching redcoats, marching with their muskets at the beat of the drum, their bayonets glinting in the sun, unnerved young Henry Gould, whose nickname was Harry. Rev. William Emerson walked through the ranks to bolster morale, noticed Harry breaking formation, clapped the panic‑stricken young man on the shoulder, and admonished him: “Stand your ground, Harry! Your cause is just, and God will bless you!”[i] Young Harry took the challenging reminder to heart and fought bravely throughout that historic day, then went on to serve in the Continental Army.
One of the most important responsibilities of a military chaplain is reminding soldiers of truths they already know but have difficulty remembering in the middle of the battle. When bullets start flying, casualties mount, and uncertainty clouds the outcome, people can lose sight of what they know to be true. A good chaplain doesn't invent new truth for difficult times; he simply points people back to the unchanging truth they have forgotten.
That is exactly what Asaph does in Psalm 77. The psalm begins in deep distress. Asaph cries out to God but feels as though heaven is silent. His soul refuses to be comforted. He spends sleepless nights wrestling with questions that many faithful believers have asked through the centuries: "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His steadfast love ceased forever? Has He abandoned His promises?" Those are honest questions. But they are also dangerous questions if they become the final word.
Then everything changes with one deliberate decision. "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." Nothing around him has changed. God has not yet removed the trial or explained His purposes. What changes is the focus of Asaph's heart. Instead of allowing unanswered questions to dominate his thinking, he deliberately rehearses God's faithfulness. He remembers the miracles of the past, God's covenant love, and His mighty acts on behalf of His people. Looking backward renews his confidence to move forward.
There is an important lesson here for every Christian man. One of the primary responsibilities of a chaplain is not to provide all the answers but to help people remember what they already know to be true about God. Whether serving on a battlefield, in a hospital room, or around the family dinner table, a godly man reminds others that God's character has not changed simply because today's circumstances are difficult. When fear begins to cloud our vision, someone must gently point us back to the faithfulness of the Lord.
Every family eventually walks through seasons when questions outnumber answers. A frightening diagnosis, financial uncertainty, the loss of someone you love, or a child who has wandered from the Lord can shake even mature believers. During those moments, your family does not need a man who pretends to have every solution. They need a man who knows enough of God's Word and God's faithfulness to say, "Let's remember what the Lord has done before." Often the greatest gift you can give those you love is not an explanation but a reminder.
Asaph closes the psalm by reflecting on the Exodus. He remembers that God made a way through the sea when no way seemed possible. The Israelites could not see His footprints, but He was leading them every step of the journey. The same is true in our lives. There will be days when we cannot trace God's hand or understand His timing. Yet because we remember His faithfulness in the past, we can trust Him with the future. That is the quiet ministry of a chaplain: helping weary hearts exchange fearful memories for faithful ones until they can once again see God more clearly than their circumstances. It can all begin with a “helpful reminder.”
- When difficulties come, do your conversations focus more on your problems or on God's faithfulness? What stories of God's provision and answered prayer do your children or grandchildren need to hear from you?
- How can you intentionally become the kind of man who reminds others of God's unchanging character during life's hardest seasons?
- Pray and ask God to help you be more “God-focused” in your conversations, especially when dealing with difficulty, and reminding others of God’s faithfulness.
[i] See Amelia Emerson, ed., Diaries and Letters of William Emerson 1743-1776 (Boston: Thomas Todd, 1972), 73.