The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21).

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It can feel scary to acknowledge and especially to say those words. Essentially, Job acknowledges that despite what happens, God is sovereign and says, "Give thanks in all circumstances."

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When things are going well or as they “should”, and we are experiencing the blessings of life, we should turn that praise towards God. When there's loss, hardship, or lack, we can and need to turn our praise to God still.

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Music Artist Matt Redman (and his wife) faced serious loss. He wrote a song, “Blessed be Your Name."

Pre-Chorus

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

The Bridge

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

Matt Redman said, “I think this is a song with a cost attached to it. You can’t sing 'You give and take away, Blessed be your name” lightly”.

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“I think this is a song with a cost attached to it. You can’t sing 'You give and take away, Blessed be your name” lightly”.

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Whether you’re singing that line looking over the past or singing it trusting your future to God, I think it’s a tough line to sing. There’s a sacrifice involved.” Yes, God will forgive our sin, our shame, our sickness, our worries, and our fears. He gives us the true and good things that bless us! But what about when He also takes away those things that look good to us? Those things He knows will bring us harm. Often, it is in this taking away that our true love and who/what we trust in are revealed. This is God’s great mercy to us.

I know I have been given much, AND I have had loss. “Loss” that I couldn’t understand or did not want at the time. Later, I was able to see the blessing or the rescue. Oh, may I learn to truly trust my God!

What are you trying to hold on to, get rid of, or control? Are you leaning on your own understanding, depending on your own perception and your perspective? Are you trusting God or something or someone else??

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 55:8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Luke 1:45: "Blessed is she who has believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled."

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So, be at peace in the mercy of the giving and the taking away.

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