Rest in Rememberance

by Fred Alcain on July 03, 2026

SCRIPTURE:

"Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling."

Psalm 116:7-8

 

OBSERVATION:

I love how the psalmist doesn't ask God to give him rest, he tells his own soul to return to it. That means rest isn't always the absence of problems but sometimes it's the decision to remember God's faithfulness. The psalmist preaches to himself by recalling what God has already done. He delivered him from death, wiped away his tears, and kept his feet from stumbling.

How often do I do the opposite? I rehearse my worries instead of God's victories. I replay the conversations, the challenges, and the unknowns until my soul becomes weary. Yet the cure isn't finding new circumstances. I’s remembering old faithfulness.

God has rescued me more times than I can count. He's opened doors I couldn't open, provided when I couldn't see a way, forgiven me when I failed, restored relationships and, answered prayers I had nearly stopped praying. If He has been faithful then, why wouldn't He be faithful now? My soul doesn't need more evidence that God is good. It simply needs to remember.

APPLICATION:

When anxiety or discouragement begins to take over, I need to rest in remembrance and practice returning my soul to rest by remembering God's goodness. I will:

  1. Preach truth to my soul. Instead of allowing my emotions to dictate my perspective, I will return to God's promises over myself.
  2. Keep a record of God's faithfulness. Iʻll take inventory of answered prayers, unexpected blessings, and moments where God clearly showed up. During seasons of uncertainty, those reminders will become fuel for my faith.
  3. Walk confidently because of where He's brought me. God didn't just save me from something, He saved me for something. Since He has delivered my feet from stumbling, I want to walk boldly in obedience rather than fearfully in hesitation.

PRAYER:

Jesus, thank You for being so faithful throughout my life. Forgive me for the times I allow fear to speak louder than my memories of Your goodness. Teach me to preach truth to my own soul and to return to the rest that only You can provide. Amen

About the Author

Fred Alcain

As the Extension Pastor at New Hope Oahu, Fred’s focus is on taking New Hope’s creative arts and musical presentations out into the community as the point of the spear of Evangelism.

On staff at New Hope since 2005, Fred also oversees and shepherds our Worship and Music teams alongside his wife, Jana. With Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Education and Hawaiian Studies from The University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Professional Degree in Music Performance from the Los Angeles Music Academy, Fred also humbly serves on the Board of Directors at New Hope Christian School and 24/7 Danceforce.

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