So many emotions these past couple of weeks, where could I possibly begin? Earlier in August, I blogged with the title, “The news I never wanted to hear: His cancer is back…” This time I will start with the wonderful news my family received last week… Dad’s cancer is shrinking! Tears, smiles, peace, joy, jubilation were among the many words to describe what I was feeling when my Dad gave me this simple message: “PET scans show improvement. God is Good!” Immediately, I called him to ask him exactly what this meant. His doctors told him that the cancer was shrinking!

It seems that for these past few years, my family has been on a roller coaster of emotions with so many things happening. Wonderful news, horrible news; both have come off and on as we strive to keep focused on God and the plan He has for the each of us. As Believers in Christ know, life was never promised to be easy. Sometimes, we will receive news that gives us so much joy, and sometimes news will give us sorrow. I don’t always understand why things happen, but I trust that God is in complete control and that He is and always will be sovereign over everything.

So what do we do when the news we receive is not at all what we wanted to hear? What do we do when the news brings sadness, pain, and frustration? I am not going to act like I have the answers, because I don’t. What I can say is this, “The Lord goes before us and He will never leave us. Trust that He is in control. Trust that He is sovereign.”

In my life, I have faced many trials and disappointments. It seems that every time I do, my family will remind me that God has great and amazing things in store for me. Even when I am not home with my family, my Dad, my Nana, and my BigDaddy will encourage me over the phone and remind me of God’s goodness.

My family has been my ultimate source of inspiration throughout my young life. My Dad has faced more than I could ever imagine, yet he still, even with intensive chemotherapy treatments, finds ways to make me laugh, finds ways to tease me and pull practical jokes, and finds ways to lift me up and reassure me that God is sovereign. When my BigDaddy had heart surgery, and even more responsibilities were placed on Nana’s shoulders, they still never seemed to lose their faith that God would make a way, and that God would provide the answers we needed. The kids too have faced so many challenges, yet they have chosen to trust God with all their hearts.

And what should we do if we receive wonderful news? Praise Him! But also praise Him when the news is not so great. Praise Him in the calm. Praise Him in the storm. For the God that is with us when times are great is the very same God that is with us when times are tough.

In case you don’t know by now, I love adding songs that speak to me in my blogs. Over these past few years I have received good news such as Dad beating cancer the first time, getting his degree, myself getting another “A” on my transcript, Dad’s cancer shrinking, BigDaddy’s heart surgery going well, Shayla and Isaac professing their faith through baptism, the list goes on. But I have also received news I didn’t want: when Dad first got cancer, when it returned, when I faced disappointment or didn’t get that ministry position I wanted, that list could continue as well.

In all of these situations, I have occasionally been reminded by one of my favorite Gaither songs, “God On The Mountain.” There have been plenty of times when I would look it up on YouTube and listen to these words:

Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known
But things change, when you’re down in the valley
Don’t lose faith, for your never alone

For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, he’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day, is still God in the night

We talk of faith way up on the mountain
But talk comes easy, when life’s at its best
Now it’s down in the valleys, trials and temptations
That’s where your faith is really put to the test

For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley,
When things go wrong, he’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day, is still God in the night
The God of the day, is still God in the night

How wonderful is it to know that that same God that gives us happiness and joy in the good times is also the same God that grants us peace in the bad times and reassures us that His presence never leaves us? May my heart never cease to praise Him! Sometimes life is easy, and in those moments, when I am up on that mountain, I will praise Him. When I am down in the valley of sorrow and despair, I will praise Him. When the news is good, I will praise Him. When the news is not at all what I wanted to hear, I will praise Him for I am never alone!

Psalm 34 (NIV) proclaims this:

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

Every chance that I get, I will strive to praise His name! No matter what comes my way, good or bad, God is worthy of my praise! Because that same God that I sing joyous praise to when life does go my way is the very same God that I will call out and praise when life doesn’t go my way.

I am beyond thankful that God gave me this news that brought a smile to my face: Dad’s cancer is shrinking! I thanked God and praised His name for this wonderful news. I also praised Him before when Dad’s cancer returned the second time and praised Him in other situations that have left me sad or frustrated. In every circumstance, one thing remains the same, God’s love never fails! He is the same today and tomorrow as He was yesterday.

So praise God in every situation! For the God of the day IS STILL God in the night!

 

Lynda Randle. God On The Mountain. By Tracy Dartt, 1975. MetroLyrics. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

 

God On the Mountain by Lynda Randle

How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin