What Is the Reformed Doctrine of Reminiscing?

To reminisce means to remember happy times. Some of us are more reflective than others, but I dare say if you are a Christian—nay! if you are a human being—that even you have tasted the sweetness of a good reminisce. The memories of time gone by can be sweet, sometimes enough even to cheer a sad soul. It’s now springtime, and the change of seasons is a great time to reflect on good times gone by.

The Lord calls us to reminisce, which makes this an act of holy devotion unto God. Remembering what he has done in the past keeps us spiritually-minded, lest we forget his glorious presence with us now:

They forgot God, their Savior, who had done such great things in Egypt (Psalm 106:21).

But, I ask, how can we reflect on the things God has done in the past unless he has truly done them? It makes no sense, unless he is their Author, unless he is the real Storywriter of our lives. In other words, can you really have a doctrine of Christian reminiscence at all—fondly reflecting on the ways God has delivered and blessed us in the past—apart from the Reformed doctrine of God’s sovereignty? He has brought these things about, exactly as he planned them. Even as the psalmist says:

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old (Psalm 77:11).

And Isaiah is so bold as to say:

I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, “My idol did them” (Isaiah 48:5).

Truly he is the living God. So, when we reminisce on his goodness to us yesterday, it helps us hope in his sure mercies today, and that keeps us close to him always.