Blessed be His name

On thursday night my work colleague and friend lost his child, Anele. Anele suffered a very severe asthma attack and died as his parents tried to race him to the hospital. No parent is made to endure this. My heart aches for them. In times like these I am drawn to the words of the following song - where the fullness of life and the sorrows of this world are acknowledged. There is hope that God is still God...in the good AND in the heartbeaking times. I have sung this song many times in my dark moments, today I sing it for my friend and his wife and their children.

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 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 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

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 of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

(Beth Redman and Matt Redman)