The Tough Questions

I Will Praise You In This Storm

By: Casting Crowns

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

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Sometimes God allows things to come our way that seem so unfair. Sometimes/oftentimes, they're things we never saw coming. What do we do when we feel the rug has been pulled out from under us by the One who loves us the most? Well there it is...the question that so many of us think, but often don't admit. 'Geesh, things were going so well God, why would you allow this to happen?' or 'Why me?' or just 'Why?' It's so hard to wrap our minds around those thoughts, take them captive and own up to them. The truth is...our God is big enough to handle them. ALL of them. The bottom line is when that blasted rug is pulled, no...sometimes yanked from beneath us, those are the times our faith is tested the most. Now that we're in these new predicaments, what are we going to do? Yes, initially we're going to question, be sad, be angry, but then what? What do we do with these new situations? How do we deal with the unknown? How do we face the uncertainties that lie ahead. Believe me, I can recite the Sunday school answer of "just trust God". How can something be so simple and yet so difficult at the same time? The answer: it just is. Praising Him through the storms of life is what faith is all about. It's not easy. I struggle with it constantly. However, time and time again God has gently shown me that He indeed has a plan for me. I am so thankful for the spiritual growth that has developed within me over the years and I know that without changes that have seemed so painful I never would be where I am now. So, I will trust, that although the time has come for yet another change and again my heart may be aching...I will praise Him through these storms.

"When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fires of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

Isaiah 43: 2-3