th-58For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NIV

As Melody and I walked into a Home Depot a second time, I saw another Christian brother, Charlie who runs one of our local Soup Bowls. We did our traditional hellos and how are you, to which I responded, “I’m good”. Then I caught myself in my mind, things were really NOT good.

“Actually Charlie, things are not good at this moment. We had a power surge in our house, several protectors are fried, possibly our fridge is ruined and we haven’t yet identified the problem. We are here to buy some new breakers.” 

He related a similar problem in his own home and encouraged us that we were on the right track to identify the problem. Melody was glad that I was honest that we really did have a problem and she was encouraged by someone who had overcome a similar situation.

We are not surprised at the timing of this particular stressful attack on our lives.  These things tend to happen during our heightened ministry endeavors. We are right in the middle of organizing churches to be unified in delivering first day school supplies to children in our city and county schools. Stuff happens during this time. We have had a computer stolen, computer problems and cell phones stop working properly. All of those are needed to communicate well during our campaign.

Just to add a little more context to the “Woe is Me moment.” When the electricity spiked I was actually trying to repair the AC on our van. Yes, it went out on the first day of summer. So while I am replacing the compressor, condenser, and high pressure line on the van, we also get a power surge in our home. We walk through the house to the smell of burnt electronics in various rooms trying to determine the extent of the damage.

All of these waves of problems are the perfect recipe for a slice of discouragement pie filled with “why me” nuts, mixed with “I really don’t have time for this”, with a bottom layer of “I have no idea how I am going to pay for the repairs”, and topped with a delicious repetition of “this is unfair, nobody else struggles like this.”

God is present. God is here in the middle of our mess. When the enemy comes in like a flood we raise a standard. The standard is raised during the battle not just after the victory is won. Our standard is Jesus is King. He is ruling and reigning over all of my problems and has a way out of the mess. His timing is always to reveal his limitless power for His own glory.

So, today I sing a new song of praise to my God. It’s new because I am singing it for the first time in the midst of this trial. Others have sang the tune with their own versions of experience.  Today I sing, “I lift my eyes up unto the heavens, where does my help come from?”

By Brian Doerksen

I lift my eyes up unto the mountains

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven

Creator of the earth

I lift my eyes up unto the mountains

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven

Creator of the earth

Oh how I need You Lord, You are my only hope

You’re my only prayer

So I will wait for You to come and rescue me

To come and give me life.

Meanwhile, I will check outlets and lines with a voltmeter. I will complete the AC job on the van. I will see the goodness and timing of the Lord My God in this land (my home) in which I am living. I will lead my family to give thanks when there is NO visible reason to be thankful, except that God is good and He is here…always. He is the difference maker.

Blessings Love y’all