You Raise Me Up

When I am down, and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

- Josh Groban

Pastor Jared talked about the Psalms of Orientation versus the Psalms of Disorientation, those which orient us toward a higher God versus those which express frustration for our circumstances and experiences – when we feel like we have done our part, but still God seems to have abandoned us.

I remember when I, Pam, and our children first moved to Phoenix to continue my seminary training. We felt like we were following God’s call and His Will for our lives, yet I went five months without a job, and our savings - what little we had - had all but disappeared. I spent many an evening walking around the neighborhood asking God, “Where are You in this? I feel like I have done my part, so why is this not working out?”

In the Old Testament, Moses writes in Deuteronomy 31:6,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then, in 2 Corinthians 4:17, the Apostle Paul reminds us that not only is God always with us, never abandoning us, but in every circumstance, He is working with us and for us, through our troubles, to glorify us and make us more than conquerors.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

- 2 Corinthians 4:17

May we be reminded that, in the midst of our troubles, whatever they may be, God is raising us up to stand on mountains, to walk on stormy seas…to be MORE than we can be.

Pastor Ken

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