Singing In The Rain

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done … “  Many of us, upon reading those words mentally filled in the next words, “so loved He the world that He gave us His Son”.  The gift of His Son … at Bethlehem (unto us a Child is born) for Calvary (unto us a Son is given)… may arguably be the greatest of the “great things” that He hath done.   The fact is that He has done … and continues to do much more … for ALL of us; for EACH of us.

Linda and I have been reading together from, Walking with Jesus: 90 Devotionals on the Life of Christ, written by our friend David Glock.  Appropriately enough, we’re currently reading through reflections on the Christmas story and I was reminded of the attitude of Mary in what had to be a tumultuous time in her life.  I’m impressed by the fact that she sang in response to her circumstances.  I’m instructed by the words of her song in Luke 1:

 “My soul glorifies the Lord  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Personally, I sometimes find it natural and easy to heartily sing with Mary.  On the other hand there are times when, even though I know He wants me to sing in remembrance and acknowledgment of his amazing goodness, it is difficult to do.  When it seems to me as though things are not going well at all, and when the “great things” He is doing seem rather few and far between … I’m much more inclined to sing with Hank Williams:

Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I’m so lonesome I could cry

I’ve never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind the clouds
To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves began to die?
Like me he’s lost the will to live
I’m so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I’m so lonesome I could cry

(I probably should not admit that I have about 30 different versions/renditions of that song in my collection and listening to all of them, one after another, is sometimes a ritual that I indulge in when Linda and I are separated for one reason or another.) 

Frankly, this is a recurring struggle for me in my Christian experience and the only thing that rescues me from myself is to purposefully, deliberately and even verbally remind myself of the truths I know; that even when things are at their worst, He is working for my best (Romans 8.28,29).  Trusting Him promises to result in the experience of peace, assurance, blessing and joy.

I often agonize over the fact that it is so frustratingly possible to know such things so clearly when things are going relatively well … and yet find it so difficult to live in the light of them at the first sign of a rain cloud on the horizon.  I don’t do a very good job of “singing in the rain” but I long for the day when I will be able to do so.

God HAS blessed us over this past year.  I am keenly aware of that.  I am also keenly aware that I’ll not survive the next year unless He continues to do so.  I know He will do so, as I trust Him.  The question is, of course, “Will I?” …  “Will YOU?”

Lord … teach us to sing with Frances Havergal:

“From Glory unto Glory!” What great things He hath done,

What wonders He hath shown us, what triumphs He hath won!

We marvel at the record of blessings of the year!

But sweeter still than Christmas rings out His promise clear—

 

That “greater things,” far greater, our longing eyes shall see!

We can but wait and wonder what “greater things” shall be!

But glorious fulfillments rejoicingly we claim,

While pleading in the power of His prevailing Name.