He Has Done Great Things | Psalm 126:3

Gratitude becomes deeper when we pause long enough to remember. Psalm 126:3 says, “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.” This verse is a declaration, not of wishful thinking, but of memory. It is rooted in testimony, shaped by history, and strengthened by the evidence of God’s faithfulness. 

Psalm 126 reflects a moment when God restored His people after a season of sorrow and loss. Their relief was so overwhelming that it felt like waking up inside a miracle. The psalmist describes it as a dream, a kind of joy that bursts into laughter and singing. Then comes this quiet but powerful realization: God really did it. He brought them through. He restored what was broken. He turned mourning into joy. 

And that awareness led to gladness, a gladness not based on circumstances, but on God’s character. 

We often rush past the things God has done for us. 

We pray intensely, but we celebrate quickly. 

We plead deeply, but remember lightly. 

But Scripture invites us to slow down, return to the moments God moved, and let our hearts be shaped by His faithfulness. Psalm 77:11 echoes this same rhythm: “I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.” 

Here’s a truth nugget for today: Gratitude grows when memory becomes worship. 

When you take time to remember, you begin to see patterns of grace, the answered prayers, the unexpected provision, the healing that came slowly, the protection you didn’t even realize you needed. Every “great thing” becomes a stone of remembrance, like in Joshua 4, where God commanded His people to build a memorial so future generations would know what He had done. 

Today, take a moment and ask yourself: What great things has the Lord done for me that I haven’t revisited in a while? Let memory lead you into thanksgiving, and let thanksgiving lift your heart into gladness. 

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the great things You’ve done, seen and unseen, past and present. Bring to mind the moments I’ve forgotten, and let gratitude rise as I remember Your faithfulness. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.