Hope and Praise

God cares about our losses and crisis in our lives. I used Psalm 42 to share with my church in New Jersey the Sunday after hurricane Sandy. Most did not have electricity, all had some damage to their homes, and some were displaced. You may not have just gone through a hurricane, but storms in life abound. Our focus needs to stay vertical.

 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God.  My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”  These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.  Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

It is a great reminder of what our number one desire should be - to be with God. God is a living God. He knows your pain and loss.

Are you reaching out to Him? He’s there.

Always praise God during and after the storm. He is worthy. Amen?