The Heart's Cry: Psalm 116

Psalm 116

First, let me say that if God saves you from whatever has afflicted you it is right and good to praise the Lord. Second, I hate the first verse of this Psalm, but it is how most of us operate most of the time. The Psalmist begins by saying that he/she love the Lord because God has saved him/her from their affliction. Later on the author does redeem him/herself  by saying that even in their distress he/she kept the faith, but by starting where they start I am left with a sour taste in my mouth. Too often we praise God only when God is working things out for us, when we are on the uptick. We might not have been fully delivered from whatever is ailing us, but the clouds are dissipating and we are praising God. That is not the only time we should be praising God, we should also praise while we are rolling down the hill toward oblivion. I say this because praise is not about our situation but rather God's elevation.

I could go on about this, but I would prefer to use the words of others instead of my own, so here are the lyric to MercyMe's song Even If, read the lyrics, go listen to the song, then make it true in your life.

Even If

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You're able
I know You can

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul