Friday, December 18
(He) satisfies your desires with good things… Psalm 103:5

Have you ever hesitated singing all the words to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”? I have no problem with the theological truth of the hymn. I firmly believe “he changest not,” and when I look at the snow-capped mountains here in Colorado, I have proof aplenty that “summer, winter, springtime, harvest, sun, moon and stars witness his faithfulness.” But what about the times when “all I have needed Thy hand hath provided” doesn’t flow from my heart, when tears stream as my heart aches with the reality of unfulfilled desires. Pat answers flow freely:

Delight yourself in the Lord: my desires just aren’t lining up with his…

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act: I’m so tired of waiting…

Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established: I’ve “committed” all that I know and my

plans have been smashed beyond recognition…

May he give you the desire of your heart: sounds like another pious benediction…

Too often we stuff such times deep into the soul: Just don’t talk about it; you’ll hinder someone’s faith. Or we claim (in spite of reality) that we should have outgrown such weakness: My faith should be stronger now.

Did Mary have “can’t sing” moments? In humility and trust she claimed May it be to me according to your word, and My soul rejoices in God my Savior. We don’t have any of her recorded words as she watched her son and Savior bleed and scream at the cross, but I suspect her heart wept and wondered. If she was one of the women who took spices to the tomb, she and her grieving sister expected a body, not a rolled away tombstone.

Remember that it’s just fine to not sing what you can’t believe at the moment. Be still and remember that mustard-seed faith will eventually grow and allow you to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus.”