Psalm 28:6-7 "Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." (NLT)
I have praised the Lord. I have cried out for mercy. I have trusted Him with all my heart. My heart has been filled with joy when He's helped me. I have burst out in songs of praise to Him. I recognize all these things - have done them all. But I realized this morning that I don't think I've ever done them all at the same time regarding one situation. You know what I mean? I think of all the times I've cried out for mercy, knowing that He hears. Sometimes I trust Him, but often I don't - which turns my cry for mercy into a complaint. Of course when He helps me I am filled with joy and respond with songs of thanksgiving and praise. But what about those times He seems silent? Is my heart filled with joy then, knowing that even in silence He is responding? Do I burst out in songs of joy, even when my heart feels as though it's being torn out of my body?
My brokenness makes me want to turn away when I think He's silent or when His help moves me in a direction I'd rather not go. I'm grateful for His Word, for the community of Christ-followers I get to walk with (that's YOU!)on this journey - they keep me grounded in truth instead of my brokenness. Because of that truth I feel the joy of knowing He's there even though I can't see Him, and that knowledge causes me to burst out in songs of thanksgiving and praise. It reminds me of His infinite mercy and grace and once again I trust Him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
the cool thing is, that when I don't get to my reading, I can still glean some great encouragement from what you write! -- and at 6:30 in the morning! Wow, now that challenges me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your journey with us.
Let the songs of praise resound!
Glad I could help!
ReplyDelete