The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. --Psalm 42:8
Mikayla faced rejection this week and much disappointment. She did not face it alone, however. She faced it in Him and as a Mom looking on it was a beautiful thing to behold. Sadly, through no fault of her own, she has faced much grief, sadness and rejection in her short life from people who, by all rights, should love her. Truly, she has learned to run with the horses.
"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"--Jeremiah 12:5
On Tuesday morning I saw the results of a child who has taken her trials and hurts to Jesus for most of her life. As disappointments go, this was pretty big for Mikayla. It was something that she looked forward to all year. Sadly, she was turned away at the door. She kept her tears in check until we got home. I held her for a while and attempted to comfort her. She looked up at me through tears and asked me something she hasn't asked me since she was small. "Mom, can I go upstairs to my room and cry all I want." Holding back my own tears, I said that she could. She picked her bible up off the steps as she climbed them and for a while I heard wails from her room. About 10 minutes into it, however, I heard something different. I heard her voice singing a made up song to Jesus. She was pouring out her heart to Him in song...turning it upside down before Him. A short while later, she came down smiling...ready for the day.
Mikayla had walked through a dry and thirsty land that morning that had forgotten spiritual things...her rejection had come from people who had claimed to know Jesus. Her faith, however, was not shattered by all of this...it was strengthened. In her sorrow and grief, she went to the right place knowing that only God could satisfy the thirst she had...her heart was weary...she wanted to be in His presence. Mikayla looked up and found all she needed! By His Spirit she was able to understand that this rejection was not aimed at her personally and that sometimes hearts are crushed by those who even have the best intentions. She did not blame God either. She understood that He was sovereign and that this was part of His perfect plan for her. He had allowed it and she would accept it.
What a blessing we are to God and to others when we worship Him in the night seasons of our lives. When we sing praises to Him in times of grief and trouble. I had trouble letting go of my anger at her rejection until I heard her sing and was reminded of this verse:
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God AND THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING TO THEM. (emphasis mine)
I was imprisoned before I heard Mikayla singing...imprisoned by my own anger and unforgiveness. Her singing reminded me that our God is sovereign and that He does all things well. Worship always changes our attitudes and perspectives. Problems diminish...the mood is lightened and our focus is back where it should be...on our God. Singing in this fallen world of ours is an act of faith. Mikayla sang by faith...Her childlike faith penetrated my heart and by God's grace, I was able to forgive those who had unintentionally caused her such misery.
Our God is always faithful to give us a song. Psalm 149:5 says this:
Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.
I end with Psalm 42...
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]
6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]
6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God
