What Have You Done for Me Lately? Remembering God’s Faithfulness When We Forget
I can’t remember all the details of a story I heard years ago, but the message has stayed with me, and honestly, it still makes me a little uncomfortable in the best way. The kind that makes you pause for a second and think, “Well… that might be about me.”
The story goes something like this.
A man was running for public office and going door to door asking for votes. He stopped at the home of a gentleman he knew well and confidently launched into his campaign speech. When he finished, the gentleman listened politely and then said he wouldn’t be voting for him.
The candidate was stunned.
“What do you mean you won’t vote for me?” he asked.
“I loaned you the money for your first car.”
“I introduced you to your wife.”
“I saved your life when we were in the Army.”
“And I’m the godfather of your children.”
The gentleman didn’t deny any of it. Instead, he calmly replied, “Yes, you did all of those things for me. But what have you done for me lately?”
Ouch.
That line has a way of landing a little too close to home.
When Gratitude Has a Short Memory
If I’m being honest, this way of thinking sneaks into our lives more often than we’d like to admit. We are quick to forget past kindness, past sacrifices, past faithfulness, especially when we’re focused on what’s happening right now.
And if we’re prone to doing that with people, it’s not much of a stretch to see how easily we can do the same thing with God.
I’ve read the story of how the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt more times than I can count, and every time I still find myself wondering, “How did they forget?” How could they turn their backs on God again and again after witnessing so much of His power and provision over time?
They saw the ten plagues while still in Egypt.
They experienced the first Passover.
They escaped by walking through the Red Sea on dry ground.
And later, they stood at Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments.
And yet, even after all of that, they struggled to trust Him when life became hard.
You would think that kind of power and presence would settle things forever.
But it didn’t.
As time went on, the questions started again. Complaints followed. Doubt crept in. And beneath it all was that same quiet question, “But what have You done for me lately?”
Before we shake our heads too hard at the Israelites, it might be worth pausing and asking ourselves if we’ve ever done the same.
Love, Obedience, and Trust
Jesus speaks directly to this tension in John 14:15–16 (NIV):
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
Love isn’t just about what we feel in the moment. It’s about trust. Obedience. Remembering who God has been when life feels uncertain.
And 2 Samuel 7:28 (NIV) reminds us:
28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
God’s promises don’t expire. They don’t depend on our mood, our circumstances, or how grateful we happen to feel that day.
Remembering What Still Matters
God has been with us in the past, even when we didn’t realize it at the time. He is with us now, even when things feel quiet or hard. And He will be with us in the future, long after our current worries have faded.
His love endures forever. Not temporarily. Not conditionally. Forever.
Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is to simply remember.
One Last Thing
If you’re feeling restless, discouraged, or quietly wondering where God is right now, try looking back before you look ahead. Not to minimize your current struggles, but to remind your heart of what has already been carried, healed, provided, and restored.
God hasn’t stopped being faithful just because today feels different.
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s End With a Prayer
Lord, help us remember.
When our gratitude feels short and our patience wears thin, remind us of Your faithfulness. Open our eyes to see where You have already worked, protected, and provided in our lives. Help us trust You, not just for what You might do next, but for who You have always been. Amen.
Thank you so much for this post. It certainly did strike come with me. I do need to look back as well as forward. I am guilty of concentrating on the present and the future, and not remembering all that has been done for me. Again thank you.
I’m glad this post was helpful. Looking back is a perfect way to put everything into perspective.
Amen! What a great reminder!