Monday, September 2, 2013

We keep singing, "Hallelujah"

"Whatever's in front of me help me to sing hallelujah"
- Bethany Dillon, Hallelujah

As we come to the end of another summer I'm realizing that the theme for this year, 2013 is to sing "Hallelujah" no matter what comes.  That in all things to truly give thanks for it is in everything that God is working and His hand never lets go of us.  With the tremendous blessings that have come over the summer months, just as many (if not more) obstacles have come as well.  And with those obstacles have come the opportunity for me to throw up my hands, to say "forget it, I'm done," and walk away from all that I truly believe in.  But then again, don't we always have that "out?"  Praise God for that still small voice that lead me to open my Bible and guided my heart into the story of Job.  A man who lost everything and by everything I mean EVERYTHING.  But yet in the midst of all the loss this is what the man who loved the Lord and believed there was good in it said,

"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.  And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!  I will see him for myself.  Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.  I am overwhelmed at the thought!" ~ Job 19:25-27

So, if Job can handle losing everything and still give praise to God, can't I continue to sing "hallelujah" in the midst of the transitions and challenges of this summer.  I haven't lost anything, in fact I've gained much.  In the stillness of this world, when I force myself to stop and rest is when I see that God simply loves me.  He is jealous for me, for all of His children, and I truly believe that even at the slightest hint of taking our eyes off of Him and placing it onto the things of this world is when challenges come.  So often we are quick to become angry with God and filled with questions of "why me?" or "why now? what did I do wrong?" when in actuality the purpose behind it all is to trust more deeply in the one who loves us more than we could ever comprehend.  When life stops making sense to us isn't that when we should trust more so in the one who has it all under control?  Why does it seem that we believe we can control any and every situation when it doesn't make sense?  After all it is God and God alone who is sufficient enough with the ambiguities of life and we can trust in Him.