When Your Thoughts Are On a Downward Spiral
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)
