Female Vocal

Scripture:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV)

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Devotional: “But Then I Prayed”

When life presses in, and our hearts feel heavy, it can be hard to believe that God is near. The weight of struggles and the darkness of despair can make us feel isolated, as though no one, not even God, understands or cares. Yet, Psalm 34 reminds us of a profound truth: God hears. He is close. He saves.

The words “The righteous cry out” don’t paint a picture of someone who has it all together. Instead, they describe someone who is desperate, someone who acknowledges their need for God. This is where breakthrough begins—not in perfection, but in surrender. When we pray, we aren’t informing God of our troubles; we’re inviting Him into them. He’s always near, especially to the brokenhearted, ready to comfort and deliver.

In the song But Then I Prayed, the turning point isn’t when the storms disappear but when the author chooses to pray. That moment of prayer shifts the focus from the overwhelming problem to the overwhelming presence of God. Prayer is where despair meets hope, and faith is renewed.

No matter what you’re facing today—whether it’s grief, uncertainty, or fear—cry out to God. He hears you. He draws near to the crushed in spirit. And while the circumstances may not change immediately, you will begin to feel His nearness, His strength, and His peace.

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Prayer:
Loving Father,
Thank You for the promise that You hear us when we cry out. Thank You for being close to the brokenhearted and saving those who feel crushed under life’s weight. Today, we bring our burdens to You, knowing that You are strong enough to carry them and loving enough to walk with us through every trial.

Lord, help us to trust You even when the answers don’t come quickly. Let Your presence be our refuge and Your peace our comfort. Draw near to us, remind us that we are never alone, and teach us to find strength in surrendering to You in prayer.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.I wrestle through the night,

Writing
Rest evades my grasp,
The burdens seem to multiply,
Mountains rising fast.
Before my weary eyes,
The avalanche descends,
I find myself ensnared,
With nowhere to transcend.
In stasis I remain,
Frozen in my plight,
Caught within the shadows,
Of an endless, silent night.
I can’t move another inch,
Resignation takes its toll,
Oh, I surrender now,
I yield, my weary soul.

But then… I prayed.

Oh Lord, don’t let the darkness take my life today.
You promised, “Trust in Me.”
You said, “Lay your burdens down.”
Yet it seems the weight I bear
Is the cage that holds me bound.
Wherever I may wander,
There, I find my woe.
Unlock the door before me,
Release the chains I know.
Please, oh please, move that mountain,
With just a swipe of Your hand.

Today, I seek a fresh start,
You’ve freed me from my bonds,
Yet as I gaze around me,
I see a world of pain.
Hope seems so elusive;
My heart sinks in despair.
What kind of God are You,
When suffering reigns everywhere?
Countless cry out in anguish,
Many will perish today.
If You don’t care for their plight,
Why should I hope in Your way?
I wring my hands in grief,
For those I hold so dear,
Doubts creep in my spirit,
And linger ever near.

But then… I prayed.

Place Your healing hand, Lord,
Upon my loved ones’ souls,
Let their pain be lifted,
Restore them, make them whole.
If it is Your will,
Give new life a chance,
Spare them from the grave,
Allow them one more dance.

I falter time and again,
No other way to say.
I can’t evade the truth;
This mess I’ve made today.
I’ll fix it, take control,
With my own two hands I’ll strive,
To navigate the chaos,
To keep this hope alive.

But then… I prayed.

Oh God, let not my will,
But Yours alone be done.
I’ll step aside in reverence,
And humbly seek Your sun.
I’ll ask, and seek, and knock,
Trusting You with all my strife,
Regardless of the outcome,
I’ll remain within Your life.

We’re built for community,
Not meant to walk alone.
The prayer of the righteous
Has power, great and known.
Elijah, a man like us,
Prayed fervently for rain,
For three long years and more,
The skies withheld their grain.
Then he prayed once more,
And the heavens opened wide,
With faith like his, may we
Receive the blessings You provide.
May our prayers be faithful,
Diligent and true,
That in the long, hard journey,
We shine brightly in You.

Copyright © 2024 by SkylerThomas

Song

[Verse 1]
The night was long, the weight was strong,
The shadows whispered, “You don’t belong.”
I felt the fear, the dark surround,
No light, no hope, no solid ground.

[Pre-Chorus]
And in my sorrow, in my despair,
I found Your presence waiting there.

[Chorus]
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your voice of love cast out my fear.
Your mercy came, Your grace remained,
The chains were gone—You healed my pain.
But then I prayed, but then I prayed.

[Verse 2]
The storms rolled in, the waves were high,
The questions burned, “Lord, why, oh why?”
My strength was gone, my faith ran dry,
Yet still I lifted up my cry.

[Pre-Chorus]
And in the chaos, I heard You say,
“My child, I’m here, don’t turn away.”

[Chorus]
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your voice of love cast out my fear.
Your mercy came, Your grace remained,
The chains were gone—You healed my pain.
But then I prayed, but then I prayed.

[Bridge]
Mountains move, and waters part,
Your power reaches every heart.
When all seems lost, when hope is faint,
Your name alone sustains the saints.
I called to You, and You replied,
Your love restored my life inside.

[Chorus]
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your voice of love cast out my fear.
Your mercy came, Your grace remained,
The chains were gone—You healed my pain.
But then I prayed, but then I prayed.

[Outro]
So I will pray through every fight,
I’ll lift my song in darkest night.
Your love will hold, Your peace will stay,
Forevermore, I’ll sing and say:
But then I prayed, and You were near,
Your light of hope erased my fear.

Copyright © 2025 by SkylerThomas

The ink is dry on all of our past
The pages we turned are recorded at last
Some are stained by the tears of our pain
And most are remembered by the joys that we gained
Memories are memories and they cannot be changed
They can only be embraced by how our minds arranged
So here we come to this Thanksgiving day
And what we bring to celebrate and weigh
To make each day count, the advantage to take
To keep writing our pages, great memories to make
So let’s mark this day as a day to remember
Thanksgiving 2022 in the month of November
We lay down a feast and celebrate this meal
And before you, Oh Great God, we humbly kneel
Today we celebrate your overwhelming grace
Looking forward to the future and blessings to embrace
With tremendous joy of grateful celebration
We step into the future with great anticipation
Amen

Copyright © 2022 by SkylerThomas

Wrestles nights.
I can’t sleep.
It just seems like the burdens are building.
And growing before my very eyes.
Like mountains in front of me.
And then…the avalanche happens.

And I can’t move…in any direction.
Freezing my steps…in my tracks.
I can’t move.
And I give up. I give in. I’m done.
Oh, I’m so done.

But then… I Prayed.

Oh Lord, let not Satan take my life in this way.
You said, “Trust me.”
You said, “Let me take the burden.”
But it seems, to me, the burden is me.
It seems, to me, the burden is my cage.
And everywhere I go…there I am.
In my cage.
Please, unlock the door.
Release the bondage of my chains.
Please, oh please, move the mountain.
With the swipe of your hand.

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Today, it’s a fresh start.
You’ve released me.
But I look around.
And all I see is pain and suffering in this world.
That doesn’t give me much hope.
It makes me sad.
In fact, it makes me wonder, What kind of God you are?
Because there are so many that will suffer in pain.
Calling out to you, many will die in pain.
On this day, today, many will die, crying out to you.
If you don’t care for them, how can you care for me?
I wring my hands in grief.
I wring my hands for the loss of those near me.
And deep in my soul, I have doubts.
I wonder.
Why don’t you care?

But then… I Prayed.

Please place your hand on my loved ones and bring your healing
Please release them from this temporary pain, and make it go away
If it be your will, breath new life into their lungs
And spare them this time from the grave

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I fail, constantly, it seems. There’s no other way to explain it.
I can’t excuse it. I can’t change it. I’m a mess.
I will fix it. I will rely on my own two hands.
To maneuver my way; dodging; escaping the situation.

But then… I Prayed.

Oh God, let not my will, but your will be done.
I’ll get out of your way; and simply bow to my knees
I’ll ask, and seek and knock…and let you do the rest as you will.
And regardless of the outcome; I’ll remain faithful to you.

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We are made for community…and not to stand alone.
And the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,
And he prayed fervently that it might not rain,
And for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

May our prayers be as faithful as Elijah.
Who was diligent; unswerving; and enduring in his prayer
That over the long haul, we may receive the blessing as he did.

Copyright © 2020 by SkylerThomas

Great Is Your Faithfulness – Rock

Great Is Your Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Devotional: Breaking the Chains of Time

We often hear the phrase “time heals all wounds,” promising that with enough time, pain will fade. However, as we reflect on the writing below, the reality of heartache is much more complex. Time alone can feel endless and lonely, amplifying the echoes of our struggles rather than soothing them.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us of a deeper truth: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This scripture acknowledges that while time may play a role in healing, it is the presence of God that truly mends our deepest wounds. The reality is that oftentimes, the very pain we are experiencing can feel like a heavy burden, trapping us in cycles of grief and despair, leaving us to wonder if we can ever break free.

In the vivid imagery of echoes in a great canyon, we see how the pain we carry can resound in our minds, relentless and overpowering. But we are not meant to suffer in the echoes in our minds. God doesn’t simply ask us to endure; He invites us to bring our heartaches to Him. The cries we share in prayer are heard, and each tear is recognized. We learn that healing through God’s grace is not merely about waiting for time to pass but about actively engaging with Him, surrendering our battles, and allowing His love to embrace us.

When the darkness of night surrounds us and those haunting memories emerge, it’s then that we can lean into God’s promises. He is our refuge in times of trouble, and His strength can transform our suffering into testimonies of hope. In our darkest moments, when it feels as if we’re shouting into a void, we can trust that God’s silence is not absence but an invitation to draw near, to encounter His love in fresh and profound ways.

So, what do we do “in the meantime”? We turn towards God, whose light can pierce through the darkness. We lay our burdens down, we seek support in our community, and we remind ourselves that healing is not linear or simply time-based; it is unique to each of us. Every emotion we experience is valid, and God meets us in every moment, both joyful and painful.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before You with my wounds laid bare, seeking Your healing touch in the depths of my anguish. Help me to remember that I am never alone in my pain and that You are close to the brokenhearted. Grant me the courage to bring my struggles to You, for only in Your love can true healing occur. Strengthen me to navigate this journey, trusting in Your grace and presence every step of the way.

Closing Thought

As you move through today, remember that God invites you into a relationship of healing—one that transcends the limitations of time. Lean on Him, and let His love provide the solace your heart seeks. Remember, it’s not just about giving it time; it’s about entrusting yourself to the One who holds eternity in His hands.

A Writing

They say that time
Is all it takes

Time will heal
…Every mistake
…Every loss
…Every wound
…Every wrong-doing
…Every abuse
…Every tragedy
…Every pain

Time heals all
That’s what they say

Just give it more time
Eventually I’ll be fine
I’ll see, just trust
The pain will go away
It won’t hurt so much tomorrow
Eventually I’ll forget
I won’t feel so bad
Just give it time
Just give it
Just
More time
Time

Echoing in my brain
The words are bouncing
Off the walls
Off the walls of an echo chamber
The echo chamber between my ears
Time
Time
Time
TIME
TIME
TIME

And finally I scream
I don’t want to hear it any more
Falling to my knees
Wrapped up like a ball of string
Wrapping my arms tightly
Tightly around my stomach
My head between my knees
And I cry deeply
I bawl out in anguish
Until silently I cry
So much I cry
Until the tears
Until the tears are dry
In anguish
I cry
Alone I cry
All alone I cry
And wonder why
I wonder why
Why this works for everyone else
But not for me
Why not for me?

“What’s wrong with me?”
“Oh God, what’s wrong with me?”
“Why am I the only one?”
“Why doesn’t Time heal me?”

I dare not tell anyone
I can’t talk to anyone
They would think I am crazy
Crazy in the head
I’m broken
I can’t be fixed
I deserve what I get

And so…at night
I weep
In my pillow I weep

Night
After
Night
After
Night
The cycle repeats itself endlessly

And one day
One day
I read a book
And I decide
Sure I can beat this thing

All I have to do is one simple thing
Just follow one simple rule
It’s simple
I just have to follow one simple rule
I just have to fake it
That’s it
I just have to fake it
Fake it until I make it
Fake it until I
Fake it until
Fake it
Until I Make It

I just have to give it more time
And…Everything…Will…Be…Ok

But until then
What do I do?
Until then…what?
What do I do…in the mean…time?

In the night
In the middle of the night
In the night the voices call
They call out my name
Bringing me back
Back again
Back to the nightmare
To the nightmare of my pain
To when it happened
To the place it happened
To hear the sounds
To smell the stench
To see the tragedy
To the place where it all began
I try to silence them
Silence them any way I can
But I can’t dodge the truth
Because truth won’t run
The truth won’t run, like I do
Truth stands steady
Like the immovable object
Truth won’t budge

And in the morning I tell myself it’ll be okay
And that I’m gonna get better on another day

Finally
Finally it’s morning
I slam the alarm
I cover my head
Beating my pillow
I wish I were dead

And then I awake
I finally awake
I wake to realize
Nothing has changed
Nothing
Not a thing
No it’s all the same
I’m living another groundhog day

And all of this
All of this journey
Is the endless cycle
So craftily spun
So craftily spun by the Evil One
To keep me from God’s Love and Grace
To keep me from seeing His Holy Face
To keep me locked in my own prison cell
To keep me from drinking water from the well
From the well of Everlasting refreshment
From the well of Everlasting healing

Down deep I know it’s a lie
Because I know
If time were the only thing
Then I’d be getting better
With the passing of every day

But here’s the honest to God truth
Yes, it will take time
But I already knew that
I already knew it would take time
But time isn’t all it takes
There’s one more thing I don’t want to do
And I know that too
Because it’s going to be hard
I know that too
It’s going to be hard

I must dig
I must dig a little deeper
I must dig into the scars
I must dig a little deeper
To cut through the scar tissue
To cut through the scar tissue that has me fooled
To cut through the scar to get to the original pain
To open up that wound
To open the wound I don’t want to open
I gotta dig deeper
I gotta dig a little deeper
To open the wound
So it can drain
So it can drain the toxins that are keeping me down
So it can drain the toxins and heal again

Yes, it’s scary
It’s downright frightening if I think I’m all alone
If I think I have no one there to help me
Yes, it’s scary as hell
But it doesn’t have to be

But it’s necessary to dig a little deeper
And it’s going to hurt like hell

And for this to work I can’t numb this pain
I can’t tip the bottle dry
I can’t swallow that pill
I can’t inhale that drag
And I can’t snort that line

No no…
It’s going to hurt like hell
But that’s what it takes
So I can feel again
So I can laugh again
So I can cry real tears again
So I can feel real pain again
So I can experience real joy again
So I can live again
So I can love again

And so that I can be loved by those around me

But here’s the thing…
I don’t have to do this alone…
If all I will do is tell someone

Copyright © 2020 by SkylerThomas

Great is Your Faithfulness

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Verse 1
I’ve been walking through the valley, shadows pressing in
Carrying the weight of failures, drowning in my sin
They told me time would heal me, but the hurt won’t fade away
So I lift my eyes to heaven, and I hear You say:

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Pre-Chorus
“I’m here in the fire, I’m here in the flood
My mercy is rising, My grace is enough”

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Chorus
Your love is faithful through the fire, steady through the storm
Your mercy’s new every morning, forever You are Lord
When the night feels never-ending, I will trust You’re by my side
Great is Your faithfulness, my Savior, my guide

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Verse 2
These chains of shame surround me, but they crumble to the ground
Your Spirit moves within me, where true freedom’s found
I’m rising from the ashes, into Your warm embrace
You’re the God of resurrection, the lifter of my face

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Pre-Chorus
“You’re free in the fire, you’re free in the flood
My mercy is rising, My grace is enough”

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Chorus
Your love is faithful through the fire, steady through the storm
Your mercy’s new every morning, forever You are Lord
When the night feels never-ending, I will trust You’re by my side
Great is Your faithfulness, my Savior, my guide

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Bridge
Oh-oh-oh, You’re my refuge and my strength
Oh-oh-oh, through the darkness, You remain
Oh-oh-oh, I’m alive, I’m alive in You
Oh-oh-oh, chains are falling, You’re making all things new

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Chorus
Your love is faithful through the fire, steady through the storm
Your mercy’s new every morning, forever You are Lord
When the night feels never-ending, I will trust You’re by my side
Great is Your faithfulness, my Savior, my guide

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Outro
Great is Your faithfulness, Your love will never end
New every morning, forever You defend
When I’m broken, when I’m weak, You’re the One who carries me
Great is Your faithfulness, my Savior, my King

Copyright © 2025 by SkylerThomas