So its been just short
of two years since my last blog post. During that time there has been plenty of
ups and down. After seeing a service today from Trent Vineyard I thought it was
time to finally put my thoughts to paper and write another blog praising God
during the hard times.
Since the start of 2020 the world has been a tough place for all of
us with this virus flying around. However, just have a look at what the the
lock down has done all over the world. Viennas' waters are now clean of
pollution and are now clear, the smog over China has disappeared, it has
brought friends, neighbours and families closer together, its shown how
mentally strong people are and how as a country we can pull together to get
through a bad time.
However, the meaning of this blog is to show you the good things out
of sad events. Even in the bible it says to praise the lord in all
circumstances Psalm 34:1 (I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will
always be on my lips). We can all do this when things are going our way, but
most of us fail to praise God when bad things happen.
At the start of the year I lost someone very dear to me who was also my
cornerstone. Even while watching over her in hospital, slowly passing away I
could still praise God for the glorious 28 years we’d had together. During that
time two bible verses came to mind. Romans 10:9, (if you confess with you mouth
that Jesus is Lord and belief in your heart that God raised him from the dead
you will be saved),and John 14 2-5, (In
my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also, and whither I go ye know, and the way ye know). It felt weird to ask someone
who confess with their mouth Jesus is King when they couldn’t respond so a rare
smile was accepted.
A
friend of mine also had a bad start to 2020. A death in the family also coupled
with the loss of the family pet, a cancelled wedding and a close family member
having major surgery. Even syringe this tough time we can still praise. She had
memories of spending time with the family member and pet. She still had her dad
after his major surgery and they still had the family wedding to look for to.
Again in a place of darkness light was shining brightly.
Even
in the bible in Acts Paul was praising in prison after being beaten, striped
and imprison for his faith. At the stroke of midnight he started celebrating,
singing and praising God even though he was in such a bad time. Acts 16 22-25 The
crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered
them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After
they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was
commanded to guard them carefully. When
he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet
in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were
listening to them.
Job
was still able to praise God even when he was losing everything around him. Job
1: 20-22 At this, Job got up and
tore his robe and shaved his
head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I
came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God
with wrongdoing.
It’s
just amazing how in dreadful circumstances there are still good things that be
praised and brought out of it. After after failure, death, illness and
heartbreak.
The
best pound I ever spent was in a book called Count It All Joy. If you ever
thought your life was bad, please read that book. After all the bad events that
happen in this woman’s life she still has the presence, faith and grace to
praise.
Praise
be to God!
