Praise You in this Storm

This morning I am thanking God for sleep.  I've come to determine that sleep is very under rated.  It is an unequivocal neccesity to well being.  There is no pill that can supplement, caffiene cannot take the place of, there is no replacement for good, undisturbed sleep.  Last night the weariness seemed to positively ooze from my mind and body.  Most nights, for me, are interrupted by dreams and heavy, burdensome thoughts.  Last night, as I lay my head against the pillow, I sent up a prayer...."Lord please allow me to sleep peacefully."  He answered with a yes.  Sleep, it may seem like such a small thing, yet it's abscence darkens every aspect of life. 

 

This morning after spending time in prayer, I opened my email inbox and found that once again God has given me hope in encouragement.  A dear friend sent me a very simple message that she was praying for us and that the song "Praise You in This Storm" kept coming to her mind.  She wrote the lyrics and though I have heard and sung this song numerous times, seeing the words in written form with no music accompanying it was a deep, moving experience for me.

 

In the months leading up to the accident, I , along with the girls in my bible study were convicted to thoroughly inspect our prayer and spiritual life.  It became clear to me that my prayers were significantly lacking.  I'd spent a lifetime coming to God with my grocery list of needs, wants and desires but  I lacked the all important act of praising him for his sovereignty.  The truth is that, while we are to make our requests known to him, he is far more aware of what we need than we are.  Slowly but surely I began to alter my prayer life from one of constant requests to one of praise and worship of my God and my creator.  I had no way of knowing it at the time, but with everything in me, I believe that he was preparing me from the trial that stood before me.  God knew that this trial would have the power to devour me unless I was conditioned to praise him in all things.  For several months I worked and struggled to remember to begin and end every prayer with words of praise for my heavenly father.  In time, I learned, I grew and my new prayer outline became automatic.  Words of praise flowed easily and unhindered.  When devestation struck, when my world seemed to crash around me, praise for my Lord came automatically.  On days when I cannot understand and cannot see his face or feel his presence, praising him still comes naturally.  It is my firm belief that it is this seemingly simple act of praising that has kept me from the clutches of depression and bitterness.  When the adversary says "this is not fair," I am trained to say "God is good."  When he says "you didn't deserve this,"  I know that neither did I deserve Laynee but Praise God, I had her.  Some may think that praise that is automatic is useless, that it is not from the heart and therefore, is not true praise.  This is not so, for the simple utterance of praise brings our eyes, time and time again, back to the cross. 

 

I praise God this morning for Lisa who so gently reminded me to keep praising my Lord and my God.  I am humbled even by the simple fact that I have a relationship with Lisa, for it is one that could only have been ordained by a mighty and powerful God.  Lisa is the adoptive mother of a beautiful little girl, Ryan Nicolai whom I had the rare pleasure of loving, with a mother's love,  for one month before I was able to place into Lisa's anxiously waiting arms.  Having come to adore Ryan, it was difficult to place her in Lisa's arms, yet I did so joyfully, knowing that Lisa's mother love would be great.  I cannot help but wonder, why is it so much more difficult to joyfully surrender Laynee into the arms of a Father whose love is matchless.

I was sure by now

God you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

“I’m with you”

And as You mercy falls

 I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

Every tear I’ve cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

 I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can’t find You

 As the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth