Psalm 103:2-5 states, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
When you truly listen to people’s life crushing stories, you see that they have endured hardships and have also been blessed with many wonderful things. How they have reacted to these times varies from bitterness and despair to peace and hope with praise. We all make choices in our responses, in our interpretations, and in our attitudes in every situation we find ourselves in. These are the things we can control; everything else is up to God. How we view God and His place in our hearts determines who we are, our potential, and our future paths.
I have realized that no matter what choices I have made, God has always been right there beside me in the person of Jesus Christ. I can only control so much, but Jesus Christ helps me to move forward and will catch me when I fall. Believe me, I have the scratches and scars to prove these falls. The life that I am creating for myself is determined by my choices, good and bad, my beliefs in people and the world, light and dark, and my strong, sometimes faltering and human, belief in God. In the quiet moments when I think He is not there, He always is, quietly reaching out with a loving voice. I see Him alive and powerful in the world; I know that He is carrying me forward, even when my eyes cannot see two feet in front of me.
I pray that I will never forget how much He does for me; I will sing praises to Him to the end of my days here on the earth. When those bad times come, as we all know they will, I will be grateful for everything He has done and will do in the future. Hear me, gracious Savior, and accept my love. I will serve you as my King, and n my sorrows, I will rise to bless you. I marvel at the beauty You have created and praise Your Word. There are blessings even in the hard times, but God is always there.
Anna Hartt
