Re-Learning (Blessed be Your Name)

It's interesting to me how something that you've been taught in such a way that you were certain you would never be able to ignore or forget it, can be easily forgotten or ignored in the midst of hard spaces.

A few days ago I wrote here about some of the lessons I learned in the midst of the many years that I suffered from depression.

A few nights ago I stood in a park, on the bank of a creek, in spots I've often gone to walk and pray, and had to resubmit myself to one of those lessons.

"I learned that God is sovereign, and even in the darkest of spaces He is absolutely, completely and totally worthy of my worship."

I have again been living in the dark spaces - not the depression of years past, but deep and in many ways very similar struggles. And I have been angry at finding myself again in these spaces. And it has been very easy to push God to the side. To blame him for the way my life has looked this last while.

So I stood on the creek bank, with the rain running down my face, reminding me of the tears that won't quite fall, and began to re-learn what it means to worship a sovereign God in the midst of the dark spaces. And I was reminded of the song lyrics that Jesus used to teach me that lesson in the first place.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
(Matt Redman)

Blessed be His name. In the desert place. In the wilderness. On the road marked with suffering. When offering praise is painful. When the darkness closes in. My heart is choosing again to bless His name.