Blessed Be Your Name

The song "Blessed Be Your Name" is easy to sing when things are going well.  the question is, what about when times are tough?  What about when you lose your best friend?  Or lose your confidant?  You lose your companion?  Blessed be your name?  Really?

What about when you lose your job?  The bank takes your home?  You have a bad car accident?  What about when you lose your home because of a fire?  Or, you lose everything in that fire?  Blessed be your name?  Really?

What about when your marriage falls apart?  Your spouse walks out?  Your children rebel, and get into trouble?  Blessed be Your name?  Really?

Let's look at the big picture.  God's plan.  I'm learning that I can't see the big picture.  The truth is, it's just too big.  The part of the picture that I can see is right here, right now.  The pain and sorrow.  But, I can also see the end:  eternity.

I have a small picture of what that will be like.  To be honest, I can't wait to get there.  I long for the day when I will see my Savior's face.  When all of this will pass away.  I call that homesickness, because I am longing for home.  Beside that homesickness is hope.  That hope carries me.

What do I mean about the big picture?  God's plan?  The reason for this?  I mean that God has a bigger plan.  A plan to refine us.  A plan for eternity that brings hope.  James tells us that these trials bring perseverance.  Matthew tells us that we must be pruned, if we are to bear fruit.

As I have walked this journey, I have heard a lot about trust.  At every step, I have heard God say "Trust me."  God knows what he is doing.  God's plan is for good.  A while ago, I asked God where the good was in losing my best friend?  In losing my confidant?  In losing my companion and advisor?  The fact is, all of this stuff works together for good (Romans 8:28).  We have to look at the big picture, which we can only see a small part of, and trust that God knows what He is doing.  All of the trials in our life make us stronger.  They build our faith.  They strengthen our spirit.  They help us to become the man (or woman) of God that He wants us to be.  Blessed be Your name!

Trust In The One

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"  He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"  (Matthew 8:23-27, NIV)

As I read this scripture tonight, I found it amazing.  Not because the disciples were amazed that Jesus calmed the storm.  Not because Jesus calmed the storm.  But because in the midst of the storm, Jesus was calm.  He was asleep.  That's right.  He was sound asleep!  He didn't even notice!  Was it because He's God?  Was it because He could calm the storm?  Or was it because He trusted the One who could carry Him through?

I believe it is because He trusted the One.  He trusted that God is in control.  He knew that the storm would only last for a brief moment.  He knew that all things work together for good, that something good would come of this storm in his life.  So, as the wind howled, and the waves crashed, as the boat was tossed, he put his trust in God, and relaxed.

There's a powerful lesson here.  When the storms of life come, don't panic.  Put your trust in the One who can carry you through the storm, and rest assured that this storm will bring something good in your life.

God Knows What He Is Doing

 I was praying while I was out for my walk earlier this evening. Crying out to God because moments earlier I had heard that ICE had kidnapped a US citizen in Minneapolis. And I was listening to music (Wow Hymns, to be specific). The old hymn Trust And Obey started to play, and I suddenly had this calming feeling that God knows what he is doing. And what is happening in the US right now? God is in control.