Frankly, writing this post is scary to me as I am afraid of failing in this area.

How is that for a way to start the post?

Job 1:21b, KJV: “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Am I willing to always say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”? Will I say it in good times? Will I say it in bad? Will I say it in times of plenty? Will I say it in times of want?

Job saw everything as from God and a reason to praise.

Stop. Read Job 1:21b again. Job had lost his wealth, his health, his children, and the support of his wife. And yet, Job says, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Disability and chronic illness means that we have and it is taken away. Loss is a part of life. Disappointment comes often. Change is frequent. Independence is lessened.

Will we respond as Job did? Will we have Job’s perspective? What if we said, “Blessed be the name of the Lord?” What if we saw everything as from God’s hand? What if we blessed Him always as Job did?

This perspective is a choice, one made with God’s strength, but a choice.

I remember a story I heard once of a man slowly approaching his new room in a nursing home for the first time. The attendant was describing what his room would be like. He said, “I love it.”

“You haven’t seen it yet,” responded the attendant.

“I know, but it is going to be great.” he wisely replied. He had decided to bless the Lord in whatever came.

As I mentioned, I fear falling short in this area. Will I praise Him? Will I bless them in plenty and in want? Thankfully, Paul gives us a verse on this.

Philippians 4:11-13, KJV: “¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

God taught Paul to be content in whatever he found himself. He can do the same for us! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.