Blessed Be Your Name... At all Times.

 

Singing praise has always been a big part of my life.  I am not particularly musical.  I cannot hold a candle to my wife and daughter, both of whom are trained church musicians.  My parents both sang in the church choir and I became part of the children’s choir as soon as I was eligible.  I graduated to the youth choir and eventually to the bass section of the senior choir.  I sang in the chorus all four years in high school.  As an adult I have sung in the church choir and been part of the contemporary worship team at church.

Some of my fondest memories growing up are being seated next to my grandmother in church singing the traditional hymns.  Many of those hymns still sustain me today.  I tend to lean on them during times of struggle.  If you were to ask my favor hymn, I would probably point to Abide with Me, but these days I find comfort in Jesus Savior, Pilot Me.  Both remind me that Jesus is my anchor in the midst of uncertain times.

One of the things I struggle with most during this time when I am forced to worship remotely, is singing.  The songs are the same but something is lacking in the impact when you sing a worship song in a room by yourself.  That struck me this morning as I found myself reflecting on Psalm 111:1 in my personal devotional time.  How I long for the time when I can again join the assembly in praising God. 

I guess there is a reason I found a special meaning this past Sunday when one of the songs we sang in worship was Blessed be Your Name.

 

“Blessed be your name when the sun’s shining down on me…

Blessed be your name.

Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering…

Blessed be your name.”

 

May God strengthen me so I can find reasons to continually praise Him, even in the midst of isolation and uncertainty.