Job 1:21 ~ “... the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I woke up at my 2:00 AM thinking hour and the recurring theme galloping through my head was this. If I readily Praise Him when the light shines and life is shimmering with hope, am I also ready to Praise Him when in darkness, when all in life is overcast, or I am in the depths of sorrow, when I face the loss of some deep happiness, when hope is deferred, or when the shadow of death approaches (particularly when it approaches those I love). In this sacrifice of Praise, I feel my soul may be closer to being in accord with the God of love, the God who created harmony with His Creation, now broken by sin.
I, heartbreakingly, wrestle against, and feel the disharmony with my Creator, as I face loss. But, I believe in praising the One who gives and the One who takes away, even as my heart aches from the pain, I will find restoration and sustenance and hope and profound joy because He IS. So, in my weakness, I ask Him for the strength. When He gives, it is His to give. When He takes away, it was not mine. His will be done.
Proverbs 16:9 ~ “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
1 comment:
Ouch. That was painful to read. I’ve been thinking a lot about all the psalms that begin with Praise the Lord Come before his presence with singing… sing unto the Lord a new song… thinking how contradictory that sounds when you interpose those words over there usual dire circumstances of those for whom they were written. I think only trust in “ the God who is there” makes it possible to sing… to bless His holy name…”, etc. And I know you do 💕
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