Seventy-six days…
I had a very long day today. I was crazy busy, but I accomplished much, which always makes me feel good. At the end of my day, I attended a worship service. We sang, “I’m Trading My Sorrows” by Darrell Evans. That song is an amazing reminder of all God has done in my life.
Several years ago, I visited a church where I was to sing a solo. When the worship team began to play, I remember desperately pouring my heart out to God in faith as I recited the words, “I’m pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed; I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure, and His joy is gonna be my strength.” I sang those words in faith, because I felt struck down and destroyed. Joy resided nowhere within me. I was believing God for a miracle. Even if the miracle didn’t end up to be what I had in mind, I was believing Him for whatever He had planned.
By the grace of God, I can stand today and sing those lyrics with a heart overflowing joy and peace. Out of the overflow I thank God for his incredible, healing power. God has restored me in more ways than one. I truly was able to trade my sorrow.
Sometimes the beginning of healing comes from an act of faith, like singing the words to a praise song when you don’t feel like it or raising your hands in surrender to Jesus even when your arms feel too heavy to lift. It wasn’t an overnight process for me. I lived through fifteen years of choosing to worship in the most difficult of times.
Through every season of life, He is worthy of praise. It’s only by His grace we survive.
