Thursday... But then can make all the difference.

It is so easy to let the cares of the world get us down. We look at a new day with a heavy heart, knowing that nothing good is going to happen. How do we know that? We know it because that is what we keep telling ourselves.

Asaph the writer of Psalm 77 must have been going through a very tough time. In verses 4-5 (NLT) he continues down his dark road that we too many of us also drive. He says, "You don't let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray. I think of the good old days, long since ended." We could say that and many of us do about what we are going through. Verses 6-9, "when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever?" That is a word that comes up a lot in our times of deep anxiety. The word forever, forever, forever. He goes on, "Will he never be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Has his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious?" And this is a good one for us to remember, "Has he slammed the door on his compassion?"

And then verse 10, "And I said, 'This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.'" Now that really sets us into our deep dark mood. But then, but then. Verses 11 & 12, "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty acts." Now that is a totally different way of thinking. That is thinking and remembering with hope, with anticipation, with a grain of excitement.

I love the Psalms. I love their honesty. They allow us to lament but they don't allow us to stay there.

Aspah writes in verses 13 & 14, "O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations." Just focus on the but then. And that will make all the difference. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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