In our Call to Worship on Sunday we pray these words: “Lord God, … ,as we come before you in grief and praise this day, comfort us with your presence…”
We are people of praise! A “royal priesthood”, always rejoicing in the Lord, and ready to declare the wonders of the God who called us into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9, Phil 4:4). But we do not hide our tears or mask our grief because God is at work to “wipe away every tear” (Is. 25:8, Rev. 21:4). Grief and praise seem an unlikely combination but, in the Psalms, we frequently see despair turn to praise. For example, Psalm 13 starts, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever” and ends “I will sing the Lord’s praise” (Ps. 13).
We grieve: Since we last gathered 15 of our families have lost loved ones. Some have lost jobs, incomes or businesses. Others have been overwhelmed caring for the sick and dying. We’ve not been able to say “goodbye” in our customary way to those who have relocated (Val Kemp, the Sookram and Reid families). We feel, also, the grief of a country suffering turmoil and instability.
We praise: The Lord, our Shepherd, is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death, his goodness and love follow us always (Ps 23:4, 6).
God Bless,
Sean