You Can Be Grateful to God Even in the Dark

“When I arrived at the hospital Monday afternoon, Beth was not in the room. A few minutes later she returned from one of her therapy sessions. After a little while, she started a song (I had always started the songs). It was one I had never heard before.
She sang: ‘I am so grateful – I am so grateful – I am so grateful – that He will walk with me’”

The message above is an excerpt of an update from one of our college professors regarding his wife. What you don’t know is the rest of the story. She recently had a stroke and could not talk or sing or walk. And she has a beautiful voice. We heard an angelic singer in the crowd at a worship seminar a few years ago and discovered it was her! I’ve seen her in town for years and she’s been in my office many times. But I didn’t know she had the voice of an angel until that night. It was dark in the sanctuary so that we could see the event on the big screen so we could barely see each other. Nobody else in the room was really singing but her. Yet her voice was clear and perfect. 

God speaks to my heart: What do you do when you cannot speak? When the words don’t come and your heart is in your throat? Do you sing? Can you sing? Do you know the words to the song that is sung strictly from the spirit? When you’re in the dark do you lose heart? Are you faint for fear? I AM with you always. Because of My Presence you can be grateful no matter what. Grateful in the unspeakable moments of dread. Grateful in the darkest hours of your life. Grateful enough to sing and praise Me. Grateful enough to remember even in those times of fear and dread and sorrow: “I will walk with you.”

Oh beloved, are you in a dark and speechless time? You may have been there a while and you see no improvement at all. God wants you to know that even there, He is with you always. Even when you do not know how to pray or praise, He is with you. If you will just praise Him in the storm right now, you will find that He will come in like a flood of light to bless your heart. You will also find that as you praise the Lord for His wonderful care, the enemy of your heart will have to flee. He cannot stand in the presence of the Word, or of praise and especially not of worship. Each step you make with God will help you find your voice again. Each grateful acknowledgement that He alone is your God will cause the light to dawn in your heart and mind and soul. I cannot promise when things will change or how God will bring about the change, but I know He is with you all the way. You are born again to be a singing emissary of praise and a worshiping messenger of mercy and grace. 

Trust Him right now, no matter what, simply because of who He is. He loves you and He’s for you. So you can let Him take you beyond the momentary circumstances of the present into His sanctuary of safety where He will watch over you, protect you and guide you all the days of your life. 

Psalm 16:8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. NLT

Psalm 112:4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Psalm 108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…

Psalm 75:1 We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

Dreading Another Birthday? Not When Jesus Counts the Candles!

Today is my birthday! On this day in 1956, my parents, Peck and Helen Warren, ages 43 and 56, welcomed a baby girl into their life. My father’s only living child, it was pretty wonderful for him.  He loved to tell the story: “I was peering at you through the hospital nursery window and a nurse stopped by.” She asked him about his ‘grandbaby’. To which he replied, “She’s pretty grand, but I’m her Papa!” Both my parents insisted that having me at such late ages kept them young! Having raised my own brood of kiddos, I’m not so sure about that, but having older parents gave me real insight into the value of people, regardless of their age.

No one ever says “Hey, can’t wait till I’m 50+!” But arrive at this age I have. It’s hard to believe that I got here so quickly! If us baby boomers think about it, we could be really sad. Most of our years are behind us, by all standards of life expectancy. Health could start deteriorating at any moment. Lots of thoughts cross the minds of middle agers.

I choose to be grateful to God for another day in His marvelous plan of grace! I choose to live as a Kingdom participant knowing that God has a plan for my life! Knowing that my days are numbered gives me real peace, because I can learn to make my days count so that each one can be lived for something beyond myself. I have blessings coming out and going in. I am in Christ, so I am favored and honored to be His servant.

Oh beloved, the Truth is this: You are so precious to God! God has a very special plan for your life and it starts and ends with Him. He knew you before you were even a “glimmer” in your parents’ eyes. He knew you when you needed to come to Him for grace and forgiveness. He knew you when you walked through valleys and climbed harsh mountains. He was with you when you were young and full of energy. He has been with you each day as you faced sickness, dangers, toils and snares.  He will be with you when the end of your life on this earth appears. And for you who have put your trust in His Holy Name, He will welcome you into the rest of your eternal life in heaven! In the meantime, your life is in His hands and your faith walk is not only for you to survive, but to share and be an offering of love and encouragement to all who need a touch from the Master’s Hand.

Run to Him this morning and thank Him for every spiritual blessing that is your birth right. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then ask Him into your heart this day! Even if you’re getting older, He can take all your days and make them more than wonderful for His Kingdom and glory and for your best. It’s never too late to start living the Real Life! And if you do ask Him to come into your heart, please let me know. I’d love to wish you Happy Birthday!

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth living in the light of His Word!

Colossians 3:3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

I Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.