I am in a very sad place right now. Someone very close to my family suffered a horrible, heart-breaking, senseless tragedy. This experience cries so clearly for divine intervention, for healing, for recovery from emotional and physical pain, not only for the individual concerned but for everyone involved in it. My dialogue with God this week has mostly been pleading for Him to intervene miraculously, and asking a lot of questions on how to make sense of this. There are numerous what-ifs playing in my head, as copious as the prayers I offer. But in the end, C always reminds me that bad things happen as a consequence of the freedom that comes with the gift of life. Yet, it is hard for me to understand that concept at a time such as this.
Blessed Be Your Name has always been one of my favorite worship songs. There have been plentiful times in the past where I have been so touched by this inspiring song; brought to tears simply by just listening to it. It helps me to listen to this song because it ministers to me that God needs to be praised when the blessing overflow as well as when we are in the road full of suffering. Painful circumstances can either bring us closer to God or break us away from our faith. My favorite verse from the song: Every blessing You pour out I'll 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
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your 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'll 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'll 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 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
From the events of the last 24 hours, it would seem that the miracle that everyone is praying for would not happen. Nothing is final until God says it is, but it would seem that the "miraculous intervention" that God is agreeable to give is not the same divine intercession we are asking for. It appears that God’s “intervention” in this horrible event is to be "by our side," to understand, to comfort, to "lead beside still waters and restore our soul" (taken from Psalm 23). I have grown certain after listening to the song that God's task is to help everyone collect the pieces broken by this incident.
When everyone involved in this experience prayed at the beginning of this week, we asked God to heal and give her back "whole." I still remember the conversation I had with JP just two days ago, as I called him up for an update. He told me to not visit that day anymore and instead help him pray that "ibalik siya ng buo." JP, I just want to tell you that God listened to all of our prayers and scooped her up in His loving and comforting embrace – He did not let go and He made her whole again; whole as she was created to be from the beginning by this loving God. Only now she is going to a more beautiful and perfect place…
Our prayers go out to your family. I can't imagine your pain, esp. JP's. In time, we hope you would all heal and recover from this senseless tragedy.
ReplyDeleteWe are also praying for a safe and speedy recovery for everyone affected - not only a physical recovery, but also of the emotional and spiritual. Please send my regards to JP and his fiancee's family.
ReplyDelete;( well written achie...
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