Still I Will Say . . .

There's a song I love, "Blessed be the Name of The Lord" that has been running through my head all weekend and into this new week.  One particular line stands out--"when the darkness overwhelms me, still I will say, blessed be the name of The Lord...".  The song focuses on being able to praise God in the good times and the hard times, in time of joy and in times of fear or uncertainty.  This weekend  and right up until tonight, we've had all those emotions and still can say that we trust and praise God in ALL circumstances . . .though I am still working through yesterday's incident . . .

It is easy to say that we trust God in ALL circumstances, until we start to walk through all kinds of circumstances.  When everything is coming together smoothly, it's easy to see God taking care of us.  However, when challenges or difficulties come, can we still (just as easily) remember that God has us?  Add to this, the separation or isolation from those who help build us up and it can be easy to look more at the circumstances than at God.  

Friday and Saturday were the beginning of a bit of a stretch.  When one of our children started running a fever, we were obviously concerned.  By early the next morning, the fever and symptoms became more intense.  The teens were at church, Kim was at a meeting and I was alone with our sick little one.  While I felt alone, I knew God was with me.  I began to read in Psalms and "bless The Lord", despite how things looked or felt.  Within a few minutes, the anxiety lifted, peace filled me and I had a clear impression to get our son checked out at a hospital in Kigali.  Later that day, after consulting the dr and getting lab work done, we returned home.  The next day, we found out our son was fighting an infection and got the needed antibiotics.  He's improving daily.  

What was significant in this lesson was the battle to not let worry or the "what ifs" take over.  We needed to hand over our anxious thoughts and reach out for God to fill us.  We couldn't rely on others to do this for us, it was a conscious decision to rely on the only One who could truly help.  

It seemed the lesson was learned, until we heard a commotion outside our back door last night.  One of the mamas had discovered a snake by our back step.  She quickly called the night guard, who immediately killed it.  Judging by everyone's reaction, this was a dangerous snake.  

So, what had we just learned about trust, fear and faith?  God is with us.  Do we embrace fearing the dangers around us?  No, we say we trust God, but do we really?  Trusting God includes relying on a Him, no matter what.  

On Saturday, I began to study this passage of scripture. . . .how timely!

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (Psalm 91:1-6, 9-13 NIV)