Remembering is the Turning Point

Thayne Sparke • Lead Pastor
May 13, 2026

3 Minute Read

Church Family,

The other morning I found myself carrying some weighty burdens and grief. My mind was heavy, my heart was unsettled, and honestly, I was struggling. In that place, I opened my Bible to Psalm 77.

What struck me immediately was how raw and honest the Psalm is.

The psalmist begins by crying out to God — not quietly, not politely, but shouting out to God. And yet, he feels unheard. He says he was in deep trouble and prayed, but was not comforted. He describes anguish without relief. Sleeplessness. Turmoil. Questions. Then the Psalm becomes even more startling.

He asks:

“Has the Lord rejected me forever?”

“Will He never again be kind to me?”

“Has His unfailing love vanished forever?”

“Has God forgotten to be gracious?”

Those are not sanitized religious thoughts. Those are the cries of someone drowning in sorrow and confusion.

And then in verse 10, there is this sense of resignation:

“This is my fate.”

In other words:

“This misery is just how it is.”

“This is my reality.”

“Nothing is going to change.”

But then something massive happens. The Psalm shifts.

Not because the circumstances changed.

Not because all the answers suddenly arrived.

Not because the pain disappeared.

The shift comes because the psalmist begins to remember.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

He remembers who God is.

He remembers God’s strength.

He remembers God’s faithfulness.

He remembers all God has done in the past.

And what is fascinating is that the Psalm simply ends there. There is no tidy resolution. No explanation for the suffering. No immediate deliverance.

The answer was remembering.

That has stayed with me deeply. Sometimes our circumstances do not immediately change. Sometimes the burden remains. Sometimes the grief still hurts. But even when circumstances remain the same, our situation can change when we remember who God is and what He has done.

We remember that He has been faithful before.

We remember that He has carried His people through impossible moments.

We remember that He is gracious, even when our emotions struggle to feel it.

We remember that the cross and resurrection are permanent proof that God has not abandoned His people.

Memory becomes an anchor for the soul.

So if you are weary right now…

If you are discouraged…

If you are wrestling with grief, confusion, disappointment, anxiety, or exhaustion…

Do not only stare at the darkness in front of you.

Look back and remember.

Remember the faithfulness of God in Scripture.

Remember the ways He has carried you before.

Remember the moments He provided, healed, sustained, rescued, forgave, and strengthened.

Remember that the same God who was faithful then is faithful now.

One simple action step for this week:

Take 15 minutes sometime this week and write down three specific ways God has been faithful to you in the past. Be detailed. Rehearse them before the Lord in prayer. Let remembrance strengthen your faith again.

Pastor Thayne


Stay connected by subscribing below so you never miss an update.

Subscribe to Pastoral Letters Updates

By subscribing, you agree to receive email communication from Codell Community Church. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Up Next
From this Author: Thayne Sparke
June 8, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
The Trail Head
Every worthwhile journey begins somewhere. Not at the summit. Not at the finish line. Not in the stories people tell afterward. It begins at the trailhead. The trailhead is where anticipation meets uncertainty. It's where maps are unfolded, packs are adjusted, and the first step is taken. It's the place where ordinary people decide they are willing to go somewhere they've never been before. That's what this blog is about. Welcome to Field Notes. These are observations, lessons, stories, and reflections gathered from the trail of biblical manhood. Some of them will come from Scripture. Some from hunting camps, fishing boats, cattle pastures, and back roads. Some from successes. Many from mistakes. All of them are written with one purpose in mind: To help men become who God created them to be. The truth is, many men today feel stuck. Some are exhausted. Some are drifting. Some are carrying responsibilities that seem heavier than they can bear. Some have quietly settled for less than they once dreamed possible. And many are asking the same question: "Is this all there is?" I don't believe it is. I believe God created men for a life of purpose, courage, responsibility, sacrifice, and adventure. Not a life free from hardship, but a life marked by meaning. The Bible is filled with ordinary men whom God used in extraordinary ways. Shepherds became kings. Fishermen became apostles. Cowards became leaders. Failures became examples of faith. None of them arrived fully formed. Every one of them was shaped along the way. The same is true for us. This blog isn't about becoming tougher for toughness' sake. It's not about pretending we've got everything figured out. It's not about projecting strength while hiding weakness. It's about following Jesus. It's about learning to lead our families well. It's about building friendships that sharpen us. It's about embracing responsibility rather than running from it. It's about becoming the kind of men who leave a legacy worth following. Out on the trail, something interesting happens. When you're standing at the beginning, the destination often seems impossible. The mountain looks too high. The distance looks too far. The obstacles seem overwhelming. But step after step, mile after mile, you begin to discover something. You were capable of more than you thought. Not because you're stronger than everyone else. But because you kept moving forward. The same principle applies to the spiritual life. Many of the men that we find in Scripture didn't start where they finished. They simply took the next faithful step. Then another. Then another. And over time, God transformed them. That's our hope for this blog. Not that you'll find quick fixes or easy answers. But that you'll find encouragement to take the next step. To keep going when the trail gets steep. To trust God when the path isn't clear. To pursue the man He is shaping you to become. Because with God's help, you can go farther than you ever thought possible. So grab your boots. Check your gear. Let's hit the trail. We'll see what God has waiting around the next bend. — Thayne

Thayne Sparke

Lead Pastor

Currently Reading
May 13, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Remembering is the Turning Point
Church Family, The other morning I found myself carrying some weighty burdens and grief. My mind was heavy, my heart was unsettled, and honestly, I was struggling. In that place, I opened my Bible to Psalm 77. What struck me immediately was how raw and honest the Psalm is. The psalmist begins by crying out to God — not quietly, not politely, but shouting out to God. And yet, he feels unheard. He says he was in deep trouble and prayed, but was not comforted. He describes anguish without relief. Sleeplessness. Turmoil. Questions. Then the Psalm becomes even more startling. He asks: “Has the Lord rejected me forever?” “Will He never again be kind to me?” “Has His unfailing love vanished forever?” “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” Those are not sanitized religious thoughts. Those are the cries of someone drowning in sorrow and confusion. And then in verse 10, there is this sense of resignation: “This is my fate.” In other words: “This misery is just how it is.” “This is my reality.” “Nothing is going to change.” But then something massive happens. The Psalm shifts. Not because the circumstances changed. Not because all the answers suddenly arrived. Not because the pain disappeared. The shift comes because the psalmist begins to remember. “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” He remembers who God is. He remembers God’s strength. He remembers God’s faithfulness. He remembers all God has done in the past. And what is fascinating is that the Psalm simply ends there. There is no tidy resolution. No explanation for the suffering. No immediate deliverance. The answer was remembering. That has stayed with me deeply. Sometimes our circumstances do not immediately change. Sometimes the burden remains. Sometimes the grief still hurts. But even when circumstances remain the same, our situation can change when we remember who God is and what He has done. We remember that He has been faithful before. We remember that He has carried His people through impossible moments. We remember that He is gracious, even when our emotions struggle to feel it. We remember that the cross and resurrection are permanent proof that God has not abandoned His people. Memory becomes an anchor for the soul. So if you are weary right now… If you are discouraged… If you are wrestling with grief, confusion, disappointment, anxiety, or exhaustion… Do not only stare at the darkness in front of you. Look back and remember. Remember the faithfulness of God in Scripture. Remember the ways He has carried you before. Remember the moments He provided, healed, sustained, rescued, forgave, and strengthened. Remember that the same God who was faithful then is faithful now. One simple action step for this week: Take 15 minutes sometime this week and write down three specific ways God has been faithful to you in the past. Be detailed. Rehearse them before the Lord in prayer. Let remembrance strengthen your faith again. Pastor Thayne

Thayne Sparke

Lead Pastor

May 13, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Cast 2026 Info
The Cast 2026 is coming up June 6th! We are just a few short weeks away from the Cast our annual men’s outreach fishing tournament. This year, it will be held at Lake Wilson and for the first time.... CASH prizes! Visit www.castandblastks.com to learn more!

Thayne Sparke

Lead Pastor