Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

As I reflect back on this past year and all that God has been teaching me, the only thing that comes to mind is the song:

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say Lord,
Blessed be your name

God chooses to give and take away, and nowhere does he say it will be an equal share of give and take. Some people get all take and some people get all give. The past year for me has felt like all take and no give. But, as the song says we still need to CHOOSE to say "Blessed be your name". It is really easy to say blessed be your name when all is well, but I can't say that it has been easy when life has been hard. But, over the past month as God has been working in my heart and breaking me down I have been realizing the comfort and the peace that comes from choosing to say "Blessed be your name". The last few days when I have wanted to give up, God has reminded me to look for the blessings in every day and to turn to him through it all!

I encourage everyone to search out that peace that can be found from choosing to praise God through it all. He is the best friend anyone could have and he will never let you down. In those moments when you don't think you can go on I encourage you to say "Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"