The passing of time marks so much in our lives — childhood, graduations, new jobs, marriage, aging, and even death. We remember certain dates on the calendar, as they’re tied to specific events. When my husband passed away, I marked a year of Wednesdays, as that was the day he left.
Recently, I made a decision to step back, take a break, seek healing and refreshment, by leaving the church my husband and I planted eight years ago. It was a hard move, and not without struggles and doubt. As I faced the first day “on the other side” I chose to mark it by reading the book of Psalms. I felt the words of this book would help me in the ups and downs of my own emotions.
With each psalm, I put one foot forward, farther removed from those I loved and served. I cried out with David, prayed with Asaph, and worshiped with the sons of Korah. I kept going, allowing God to speak to my hurts, my struggles, my fears, while I prayed he would also care for them, their needs, their future.
I recently reached Psalm 150. Was it possible that it had already been that long? After months of tears and crying out to the Lord through the psalms, I reached several days of simple praise.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens…Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
With the arrival of these psalms came the coming of Easter — the best reminder of why God is worthy to be praised. He is not only our Creator but our Redeemer, Lord and King. I read Psalm 149 on Easter Sunday, able to sing a new song in a new assembly of the saints.
By the end of the day, I had all the more reason to praise him. It happened as the result of a simple picture posted on Facebook. It looked familiar to one taken three years prior, just after my husband’s death, but this time, it revealed new faces, a new pastor, new hope for the future. It made my day.
Reading Psalm 150 on the Monday after Easter, after that picture was posted, I could not help but see how God had blessed. He’d shown himself faithful, and I could only praise him and be grateful for his mercy and grace.
What happens on day 151? I keep going in his Word, keep leaning on him, keep pressing on in the faith, knowing that he “who began a good work in [me and in them] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Are you marking your days? Recognize God’s faithfulness and guidance in each and every one — and give him PRAISE!
Grace and Peace