I’m writing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries today and thought you might enjoy it too! Here you go!
The negative thoughts were rolling in like the tide, carrying trash from the sea of memories along with it. Certain aspects of my life hadn’t turned out like I thought they would, and I was mentally complaining…to God…about God. Why did you allow us to go through those years of infertility? All my friends are having grandchildren, and we’re missing out …again? God, I don’t like this part of my story.
Have ever dared to do such a thing? Complain to God about how your life’s unfolding? If so, don’t beat yourself up. When we read the Psalms, we see a lot of “this is not what I expected” and “where are you, God?” lamenting.
In Psalm 77, the writer, Aspah, bemoans the many disappointments in his life. It seems he’s complaining about how he feels God has failed him. Let’s read and see if we can relate to what’s bouncing around in his head.
I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted…
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
The Psalmist was on a mental downward spiral where his thoughts were dragging his emotions along with them. But then something happened in verse 10. He decisively, determinedly, and drastically changed his thought trajectory.
“Then I thought…”
Those words stop me in my tracks. The writer made a pivot. A shift. A complete turnaround. It was a definitive moment that transformed his thinking.
Rather than listing the ways he felt God had let him down, he began remembering all the ways God had lifted him up.
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
He went on to remember and recount how God saved his people through Joseph’s leadership, parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross, and led the freed slaves out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. God was good after all! He just needed to change his focus from thoughts that made him emotionally cower to remembering God’s never-ending miracle working power.
“Then I thought.” Those three little words could possibly change our attitudes, emotions, and outlook on life. When we pivot to praise our perspective changes.
“Then I thought” of all the ways God had blessed me with grandnieces and grandnephews that I love to pieces. I thought of my niece, Grace Anne, who is the daughter of my heart. I thought of how God had blessed me with an amazing husband for 45 years and counting. The trajectory of my negative thinking moved from grumbling about what I didn’t have to gratitude for what I did.
God of miracles, please forgive me for forgetting all You’ve done in my life. Today I praise You for Your past provision and protection. You are the God who performs miracles. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I’d love to hear how you’d fill in this blank. I was thinking one way about my struggles,
but then I thought__________________________. Leave a COMMENT and let’s share!
Digging Deeper
One way to stop our thoughts from that downward spiral is through praise and thanksgiving. When we open our eyes to recognize the good, God’s presence comes into focus. That’s what my book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More is all about: how to recognize God’s presence in our daily lives. Join me and let’s find His fingerprints together! (Also includes a Bible Study Guide)
Comments 63
I was thinking one way about my struggles, but then I thought I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus and no weapon firmed against me shall prosper.-Romans 8:37 and Isaiah 54:17 – Amen! 😃🙏🏾✝️
Author
Amen sister!
Amen
I was thinking one way about my struggles, but then I remembered that God gave me a wonderful husband, my daughter a wonderful husband, and my son a wonderful wife. I am full of gratitude!
Author
Blessings all!
But then I thought…..oh how God protected me before, during and after my divorce. If I’d never gone through that trial I would not have been humbled and realize how shallow my relationship with Jesus truly was.
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Author
Amen!
Wow Sharon! This is right on time. I had one of those days just recently. Oh I was in a state of mind where I couldn’t pray, read my word or anything. I called a friend to ask her to pray for me. I could not be comforted. I cried and cried all day and night. Help me God, I need yiu You. About 3 orb4 in the morning I turned on a prayer and listened. Talk about God giving you what you need. He reminded me of His love for me and how He’s brought me through tuff times before. What I was going through was nothing new. He reminded me of David and his son Absolom. The heavyweight lifted and i felt the Holy Spirit comforting me. Thank you.
Author
Just beautiful!
I was thinking one way about my struggles, but then I thought He has come through every time I’ve needed Him and He’ll do it AGAIN AND AGAIN!!
Author
Yes He will.
But then I thought….. BUT for God where would I be; there is no one else to turn to!
Author
Amen.
Beautiful
Ah! I can relate! Change my thinking!
but then I thought…” I have a faithful husband. I have two sons who love Jesus! I am so blessed!”
Author
Blessings all!
Your message was refreshing for we do tend to forget what God has done for us and remembering he brought us through once and He will do it again THANKS FOR SHARING
Author
Yes He will.
I was thinking one way about my struggles, but then I thought about my mom (who is in heaven right now) and I remembered that God kept ALL His promises to her as she was so faithful in praising Him even in so many difficult times raising us 7 kids. She would share the stories with us how God will always be there for us even though we don’t feel it! “You cannot always go on feelings” she would say but “you must run that race to the end to get the prize”. I watched her through the years cry out to God with all the trust and faith she had and that is how I keep on going by remembering her walk with the Lord — what a testimony for Jesus — and now I share these stories with my children and grandchildren to give them that eternal HOPE that can only come by following Jesus.
Author
Beautiful!
Sincerely curious – But then didn’t God lead them into the desert where they were in the wilderness? Genuine question what you’d answer to them for that. Was their deliverance pretty much not individual but national, and they’d look for deliverance in Heaven alone ultimately and not hope for things here?
Author
God did lead them into the wilderness and provided for them at every turn. Manna. Water. Quail. And yet the first generation grumbled and grumbled the entire time. Until God said,enough. Then He brought the believing second generation into the Promised Land. What a lesson on grumbling about God’s provision!
‘Then I thought’ is something very difficult for me. I’m a middle age widow with a son and daughter. The three of us are completely on our own, had to move from our family home to a temporary rental in our city until we find a home. I’m now facing surgery and we are alone. Thank you for sharing this.
Author
Are you a part of a church family?
Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. In the midst of undergoing tests for abdominal problems, I had a mammogram yesterday and they found a mass. Next steps – more mammography and ultrasounds. Please pray that it will be benign. This morning I read your timely devotional on Psalm 77. Transformative thinking for sure. I began to pray, thanking the God of miracles and how he has lifted me up at crucial times in my life and healed me. It gave me such peace. God really spoke to me through this devotional. God is good! Thank you Sharon!
Author
Praying now! Let us know what happens. God’s got this.
Then I thought how God has remained faithful in His pursuit of my WHOLE heart despite my stubbornly slow response. As painful as the discipline is I recognize so many blessings in His grace. The mercy shown by Him as well as church and blood family and friends. His provision in many ways for our family. Trusting God’s motives are always for the best. Praising God as He continues to draw me near to heal in union w/ Him to grow to glorify His name!
This is exactly where I am . Sharon I hope you never stop writing . Your devotions are the one God speaks to met heart through! I will choose praise
This is exactly where I am . Sharon I hope you never stop writing . Your devotions are the one God speaks to met heart through! I will choose praise
I’m entering the season of autumn with winter looming and it’s a struggle! So many things in the past to thank God for…. but what now? Not entirely rusted out but not shiny anymore either. How do you transition gracefully and Godly? I’m sorry that I am a little off topic….. Can you write about this sometime?
And then I thought. God will never leave us nor forsake us. God is Faithful.
I remember that he brought me through this and he brought me through that and this too shall pass.
I was thinking one way about my struggles,
but then I thought__________________________. I can think whatever I want to but it doesn’t have to be negative. Once I think about what I’m thinking about; like Asphad, I pivot to praise and thanksgiving.
Thank God for all the blessings he’s given to me big and small!
Thank you Sharon for this timely devotional. I am also in my “BUT THEN SEASON” right now. Psalm 77 truly reminds us to remember those old good things GOD has done to us, to our family and to those who we know and to those who gave testimonies about GOD’s goodness to them and even those we dont know but still saw GOD’s goodness in their lives. GOD is a good, good FATHER IN JESUS’ MOST WONDERFUL NAME AMEN.
Author
He is good…all the time.
I was thinking one way about my struggles but then I thought how Jesus has been with me always never leaving me nor forsaken me. Not to lose heart but keep pressing on!
Thank you for this timely devotional today.
God bless all my sisters in Christ 🙏✝️
Author
Isn’t that such a comfort.
But then I thought—-about all the times in my past He put the right people in my life to help me, guide and even ‘gave’ me the right man in my life!! I was so angry with Him for so many years because of all the things I was\had gone through that I never gave Him a thought. Years later it hit me-He had been there all along I jut couldn’t see it until my husband brought some things to light! I’m so thankful for everything He has done for me-do I get a little whiney about some things now and then? Yes but then I look at all the good He as done for me and what He has done for me! I’m so thankful
Author
Amen. Me too!
I remind myself every day of my blessings even though it is hard. My husband of 40 years left for a person he graduated high school with. He was deceitful and his betrayal has broken my heart in so many pieces that I don’t know how it will mend. In these sad days and long, lonely nights, I have to remind myself of God’s grace, loyalty and unending love. I have to tell myself that I am lovable even though the person I trusted the most in my life has made me feel otherwise.
Author
Yes, you are loved.
I’d love to hear how you’d fill in this blank. I was thinking one way about my struggles,
but then I thought After suffering from infertility(2nd pregnancy, and suffering 2 miscarriages) My daughter and I left an abusive marriage, moved and then was introduced to the most wonderful man who brought me back to Jesus, and He was never afraid to adopt. After several attempts to adopt, I gave it to God. God helped us to adopt a set of 6 year old twins, and four months later a new born. I have had a wonderful journey after I decided that God was in control NOT me…My children are now ages 54, 41, and 35 and happy. We did loose on of the twins and with out God’s love I wouldn’t have made it through it at all. God is Good… All the time…and I do Thank him daily.
_________________________. Leave a COMMENT and let’s share!
Author
What an amazing God story!
Seems that I am 24/7 thanking God and 5 minutes, (sometimes a little more) throughout a day I have serious thought processes of WORRY. Worry has been my worst enemy and has been my biggest struggle forever. Logically I thoroughly understand but struggle to trust. Thank God I do feel that my thanksgiving far exceeds my worry.
Author
Amen.
I was thinking one way about my struggles and then I thought Praise God the tomb is empty!!
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For years I’ve struggled with my depressions. I didnt complain about what I didnt have or didnt get what I wanted.
I complain a lot about why in my blessings is my depressions blinding me from the joy it could provide. For years I prayed for the feeling of brightness, see the blessings for what they are and overcome the darkness that keeps my sight from His love.
Fast forward 30 years of sucidial depressions, I finally can see the brightness and His Love. I am able to fee the joy and enjoy the blessings He has given to me and my family.
Author
Hang on to that truth!
Today is my 49th Anniversary, the first without my husband. In the midst of my grief I thought rather than concentrating of my loss to remember all the wonderful memories and thank God for the many years my husband and I were together.
Author
What a wonderful idea. And just picture him looking on with you!
As I sit here almost 3a. I read this devotion the day it was sent(yesterday.
A month ago or a couple of weeks ago. We had all four of our daughters along with their babies back on the same island and three of them under the same roof (one daughter still live here) but, to have all four together with their babies was such a special special time. It was October Birthday month. Our youngest child(boy) turned 11yrs.old, I turned 54, my 3 grandchildren (granddaughters) will be celebrating their birthdays as well. In one family (my oldest son) two daughters turning 15 and 3 yrs. And, the other in another family (my daughter) her daughter turned one. She and I have the same birthday. So for me just hearing they were coming it was gonna be a special fun filled time.
Anyways my husband and I been together for 38yrs total. We are blessed with 8 children 7 living and now grandparents of 13 and 1 great grandchild. With our home filled with children all these years we have 1 child left our 11yr old. We are back doing elementary school and tackle football.
We are so blessed! Thank you Jesus!
Since the two years our younger daughter left our home we have been small bickering about mopping and sweeping the floors or washing clothes (house chores) who did it? Why aren’t you doing it? You not taking care of your home…. All these little back and forth. I was getting frustrated, not that it all stopped but I wasn’t tending to it everyday or should I say it was not a priority.
Up until the girls recent visit it got so bad that everything and anything a word or just being in the same room would irritate me. Our conversations was bickering and “you don’t do this” “you don’t do that “ it seems we didn’t have a decent conversation “how was your day” “how you doing” it was unpleasant talks. To the point that I even spoke the D word. He also never in our many years together it was said but the “hate” word was thrown out and we were spiraling in nothing but toxic words being thrown at each other and with that frustration and doubts lingered.
I would take a drive and just like in psalms 77 I was complaining the why Lord HIM (husband) why can’t I have peace, why does my life feels like I’m stuck and these negative thoughts kept playing or reminding me. That I’m not good enough, this is it, this is how life is, it’s where you come from. It’s who you are…. There be days I would timed the negative out and then there’s days I’m up front and fighting what thought is justified to do. But all the while the enemy I’d enjoying every bit.
One day maybe a month before there girls visit. Then I thought. I would get up in the early hours feeling unsettled and in that time I thought of the miracles, the times of Gods peace was present. I cry and asked for forgiveness and ask The Lord “why don’t I have that patience like I did before”? And, God in the midst started to remind me of different times throughout my life and different season of stretching and growth in HIM how we got through it. He’s love for my family I have never ever experienced but HE made me remember and made me feel it in that moment.
The girls all arrived that same week and I was just excited…they were happy and so blessed they would be visiting. I heard it in their voices and the days we would speak and or face time how they couldn’t wait to go beach and eat the Hawaii food they missed. I was excited to spend time with them and the grand babies. But, most of all I just wanted them ALL to enjoy their time.
It was short lived. The days they were here 3-4th day My husband and I started to bicker in front of them. “You’re rushing” “you’re always late” “ you this and you that”
Boy oh boy WE (husband and I) got a Holy Ghost scolding from all 4 girls. They gave it to us. Together and separately . They were hurt and sad and disappointed all at the same time. They also ministered to us. The words that got me off of myself is when they explained how blessed to know they were coming. They ALL said Mom and Dads place was their safe place to come away from their home. Not that Their home isn’t safe. But to come and hang out with each other and their babies. And, it isn’t… I listened WE listened. WE were humbled and ashamed for what we caused in their comfortable and what they thought Blessed moment turned out in regrets and disappointment. Oh my heart broke. Oh my heart ached. I sat the entire night in my home without NO daughters and or grandchildren. And I weeped and I asked The Lord for forgiveness of my selfishness. I felt so ashamed and embarrassed.
We did go and apologized to ALL four of our daughters and we talked and Thank you Lord for once again HIS healing and restoration and our girls understanding and forgiveness. WE don’t deserve it. Only God can bring the Peace and the Joy back in a moment. It’s like a reset for us. The Lord spoke to US through our Daughters to recognize the season we’re in. Wow! WOW! Wow! He is able, He is able! Then I thought…. Miracles, Healing, Restoration and Forgiveness is part of our Lives Daily. I Thank God for our family every one of them. The strength HE has given The wisdom and guidance HE has provided. My Heart is humbled. The Girls are growing up into Mighty Women of God. Thank you Lord for teaching them your ways for guiding and protecting them.
V.12 His ways are Holy
hey, this really inspired me! may God bless you for 1000 generations praying for you!
I was thinking one way about my struggles and then I read this email which helped me to remember that the Lord is good and His mercies endure forever. I also remember how faithful and Good the Lord has been to me and my family! I work with preschoolers and today was a rough day but I know that I am a victor not a victim. all Glory Honor and Praises to God who is worthy of It All. amen
Thank you for all the encouragements.
I know the other day I was so upset with God. Why oh why I don’t have grandchildren. I can relate to Sharon about infertility. We do have three adopted children, but they’re all grown up. None of them are married and their children and then I see my niece having a baby not married and I just don’t understand sometimes, God always comes through and tells me to read psalms. And stop having a pity party. Listen to me child I love you. I know He cares oh yes He cares. .
I was beating myself up about a recently failed interview. I felt like a failure, The interview would have propelled me into a position that I knew Father was calling me into. I felt Iike I wasn’t spiritual enough or sharp enough to qualify. I felt soooo disappointed and inadequate. I was drowning in my misery. BUT THEN I thought, He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it. THEN I thought, the Lord willl perfect that which concerns me. THEN I thought, my times and seasons are in Your hands Lord. Now I’m at peace.
And then I thought,
How God protected me physically in times of danger, including an accident where a broken neck was more than a remote possibility,
Protected me emotionally, with unexpected feeling of God’s closeness in times of trial,
Spiritually in so many ways through “Glimmers” – exposed to this term (concept) listening to Sharon Jaynes as a guest speaker on a podcast ☀️
Thank you God for these “and then I thoughts” – displays of Your Grace, Love and Presence.
but then I thought__Of all the joys I DID have in my life and redirected my focus
But then I thought of how wonderful it is to be free so I can spend so much time with my nephews.
ALWAYS PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF ALL THINGS!!!!! Forever!!! and always, this is your deliverence
Deuteronomy 28:47
Sing, dance, lift your 68 year old hands
Hello Sharon,
Thankyou for this reminder!
Glory be to God!
I praise you and your in control, I surrender to you lord and walk in the unfolding future. We are so Blessed!!!
I thought how God blessed me with an opportunity to become a counselor, a wonderful husband, and an amazing family.