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Bro. Nick’s sermon was so meaningful to me Sunday, talking about how God is still in control when dark days come.  I thought of it today as I was driving today with the radio on listening to weather warnings.  I heard a country song I had never heard before.  To summarize, the song detailed a laundry list of things that go wrong in everyone’s lives--broken down cars or appliances, tough decisions to make regarding sick familymembers, too much month at the end of the money, unemployment, and on and on.

 The advice the song gives is to “suck it up…and enjoy the ride.” It reminded me of the glaring difference for believers who are facing tough times.  We can take our heartaches and fears to God and ask Him to guide us, comfort us, protect us, and strengthen us.  We don’t have to depend on our own ability to endure the dark days.

 I know many believers who have faced the toughest things there are to face in life--death, loss, illness, rejection from loved ones, loss of income, and countless other hard times.  They each testify with praise to God for seeing them through those dark days.  They don’t regret depending on Him during those times.  I can personally tell you that God grew me in those deep, dark valleys in ways I would never have grown otherwise.

 I celebrate my relationship with a God who demonstrates His powerful provision especially when the valley is deep and dark.  I prefer this song to the country one I heard today:

When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

Chorus:
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on
To press on