When Job experienced great loss, he fell down and worshipped God. He said, ” the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” It is interesting to note that Job first recognized that all that he had was from the Lord. He said, “The Lord gave.” Job did something that most people would not, He focused on what God gave, and because of that, He saw what God “took” in a proper light.
In Psalm 3:5, David says, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve rarely found a person (including myself) who is truly thankful that God sustained them when they wake up. Usually they focus on their stressful day, their lack of coffee, their manner of awakening. They focus on what God takes, or just anything He didn’t give.
Through this verse, we can learn much from David. That line about God sustaining him in his sleep, when do you think that was written? It wasn’t written while he was lounging in luxury in his palace just trying to find a Hebrew rhyme to put in his next album hit. No, it was written while he, the king, was on the run. His own son had turned against him and was threatening his life.
This ancient king found occasion to thank the Lord for sustaining him in his sleep, while he had his throne taken from him, his son rising up against him, and his very life in danger. He did so because he focused on what God had given him.
If a man in such conditions could still find it in him to sing the praises of God, couldn’t we?
” I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:1
For it is God which worketh in you, 