In a time of crisis and testing, I like to check on my own personal relationship with the Lord. I like to ask myself, “Do I love Him?” My answer is: yes. “Am I called?” My answer is: certainly I am. “Am I walking according to His purpose?” I really believe I am. Therefore, whether I can understand it or not, whether I know what God is doing, I know He is working all these things together for good to me. And that is all I really need to know. Other things will fall into their place in due course. At the burial service for Ruth in the German colony in Jerusalem, I was standing in front of the open grave looking down on Ruth’s casket before they filled the earth in. I felt prompted to cry out, “Father, I trust You. I thank You that You are always kind. You are always kind and loving and just. You never make a mistake. What You do is always the best.” That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life and it was also one of the best. I realize now, looking back that at that point, I had come to a fork in the highway of my life. I could have gone one of two ways. I could have become bitter and complained. I could have cried out to God, “Why did you take Ruth? You know how much I needed her. You were the one who joined us together.” I could have in some way blamed God. But I didn’t do that. I just decided to trust God and believe that He did what was best for both Ruth and for me. Looking back, I see that I took the right fork in the road—which was to trust Him, to praise Him, to believe Him, and not to doubt or question Him. Not to challenge Him. Not to call into question His goodness.
Dear Lord, I worship You right now. There is no one like You. You have been so kind to me, so gracious, so merciful, and so forgiving. You have poured out blessings upon me that I really didn’t deserve. You have loved me with an everlasting, unconditional love. I just want to lift my hands in worship and praise to You. You are holy. You are righteous, perfect, and just. Thank You for pouring out Your grace in my life. You are the Lord, the most holy God—merciful and gracious, longsuffering, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness, goodness, and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. I praise You with my whole being. I worship You and I adore You—my King, my Lord, and my Savior. Amen.