Over the years I've had lots of opportunities to lead the congregational singing during worship services. For the most part, it has been quite a blessing. Truth be told, there are however, several hymns I just hate to lead. One of the hardest hymn types for me to lead are the ones where the hymn writer struggled and stretched to make words rhyme. At times it took everything within me to maintain composure and not just burst out laughing. I find it difficult to lead the hymn "There Shall Be Showers of Blessing" for two reasons. First, a group of students set it up in the old campus chapel that during one student's senior conducting a sprinkler would come on and douse one side of the chapel. But beyond the joke, I have trouble with the greedy mentality of the song: mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead. Worse than that, is the hymn "He Never Has Failed Me Yet."
Please tell me what the writer of this hymn was thinking! Yet? In my mind that insinuates that He will. When I use "yet" in a sentence like the hymn I'm suggesting that I haven't done something but I will get to it. I suppose "He's not going to fail me ever" didn't fit well with the rhythm, but the theology just disturbs me.
I know that I have failed him--more times than I care to count. In spite of that He remains ever faithful and ever true to His word. I love the phrase "And God is faithful." It is used at least three times in scripture. The hymn writer knows it, too. He declares in the chorus of the song: I have proven Him true. What He says He will do." I wish he had just stopped there.
There are so many people walking around trying to live victorious lives of faith, but victory seems to be just beyond their reach. Their spirits never seem to be at peace because they're always waiting for the "yet", for the time when God is going to disappoint them, when He will let them down. Where does that thinking come from?
My husband, with the best intentions at heart, has created a situation in our home with our grandson. For well over a year now, he has given Asher a gift every day after work. Usually it was a matchbox car. At first we all delighted to see the pure joy Asher had pulling a car out of Pepa's pocket. Recently, there has been less joy and delight. Asher has developed a sense of entitlement. Nelson is barely in the door and Asher wants his toy and he is tenacious in his pursuit. If Nelson tries to substitute a different type of toy, there is typically an ungrateful response.
Beth talked to me, I talked to Nelson, and then we all talked together. It's going to probably be unpleasant for a while, but there will no longer be daily gifts. There may be weekly items, but they will have to be earned. For a while Asher may feel like Pepa is mean and cruel, and that he has failed him. But we all know better.
I'm wondering if a similar thing has transpired between us and our Heavenly Father. Why is it that we feel that God has let us down when life doesn't go the way we want or plan? Scripture tells us there is a way which seems right to us, but leads to destruction. Why can't we trust the God who created the universe, whose thinking and ways are not locked into a linear pattern? He knows the plans he has for us and they are plans to prosper us and to provide us with a future.
Go to the word. Check out some of the promises. Look at your life. As you consider your journey, can you see how his hand has provided? Can you see that he has proven true? There is no yet to add to that. He is who he says he is. He does what he says he will do. Quit looking for the yet and trust him. Now and forever more. And don't ask me to lead that hymn, okay?
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