I Will Praise The Lord
“and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’” – Job 1:21
Benjamin Schmolke was a German Lutheran pastor in the 1700’s. A fire raged over his parish and laid in ruins his church and the homes of his people.
A Counter-Reformation occurred in Germany and Lutherans were allowed only one church to minister to a population scattered over some 36 villages, Then God’s angel of death took his wife and children, leaving him alone. Then he suffered a series of strokes, leaving him paralyzed in his right hand. Then cataracts caused him blindness. It was under all this avalanche of ills and calamity that Schmolke dictated the sweet hymn beginning with the verse-
“My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
Oh, may Thy will be mine;
Into Thy hand of love
My all I would resign.”
The Lord is the giver of all good things, and it is naturally difficult when someone or something is taken away from us.
If you are wrestling after a loss, praise the Lord that He is near to you during difficult times.
“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20