Celebrate What God Is Doing
Having looked back and remembered what God has done in the past, the Israelites now ask Him to do something now: "Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev." (Psalm 126:4)
Celebrating is not just about the past. It's not just looking back. It's about the present - being aware that God is at work now and doing things that we can celebrate now.
God Has Not Retired
Probably my favourite songwriter is Billy Joel. He was prolific through the 70s and 80s, recording and releasing album after album. Then in 1993 he released his album The River of Dreams. The last song on that album was called "Famous Last Words". He sings "these are the last words I have to say, until another age goes by". That was it - he stopped writing and recording after that. He would still go and play all of his old stuff, but he wasn't doing anything new.
Except once in a while! He released a song in 2007. Then in 2025 he also released a new song out of the blue, which he co-wrote with somebody else.
Some people think God is like that. He had His last word on the last page of the Bible, and now He's done! Sure, He comes around from time to time and does something again, but mostly He's done.
I disagree. I don't think God has retired. I don't think God is even close to being done with His people and His world. I think God is at work even now.
Look at the words of Psalm 121, another ascent Psalm the Israelites used to sing while going up to Jerusalem: "He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:3-4)
He's not snoozing. He's at work.
God at Work in Your Struggles
That problem you are dealing with at the moment? God's helping you get through it. That struggle that is kicking your butt? God is at work in you to help you find victory.
We have this tendency - when things get difficult, we not only forget how God was faithful in the past, but we forget that He is at work even through our difficulties.
Paul wrote this to the Christians in Philippi: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13)
God IS at work in you. If you believe in Him and are living your life with faith and commitment, He IS at work, as you work out your salvation.
Celebrate today, not just His past work, but His present work right now in your life.
God is not finished - He is actively at work in His people right now, even through difficulty and struggle. Celebrate His present work in your heart today, not just what He did in the past.