Wake Up Rejoicing!

 “Sing to the Lord a new song...” Psalm 98:1

I woke up rejoicing because after several weeks of experiencing pains in my chest, I am thanking God there has been no pain for the third day now. We take so many things for granted. I remember when I used to have lots of wounds in my mouth and I could not eat, or talk or sing comfortably for years because of Pemphigus Vulgaris. When I did not have sores, it was such a blessing to be able to do ordinary things that almost everybody does without stressing about. Then there was the time I had to wear compression stockings every single day! So hot and itchy, and uncomfortable, and I had to change my whole wardrobe to either hide it, or wear black ones that looked like leggings. That was because of my Deep Vein Thrombosis. When my toes turned blue and my doctor said, “Congratulations! You don’t have to wear them anymore!”, I was absolutely ecstatic! 

I don’t want to take blessings for granted! I don’t want to breathe without thanking God! To walk, to see, to sleep well at night, to be with my family safe and sound.... But unfortunately I do take almost everything God gives me without thought of its value! 

In these abnormal days, after several months of staying home, or in the case of those who cannot work from home, having to wear a mask and face shield, and getting paranoid when people come near, it makes us reflect on our lives. How fragile it is! 

The Jews for most of their history have been exiled, persecuted, and have suffered greatly. But in spite of all the pressures of living in foreign lands, they have managed to maintain their language, culture, identity and spirit. When the temple was destroyed and Jerusalem pillaged, the focus of their worship transferred from the temple to their faith communities. That was when the Torah was rediscovered and read afresh.

I can say I also live in exile, in a foreign land. I am, after all, a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). And like the Jews, with their songs of lamentation, I complain about this strange land I live in. The world as I know it is changing too fast, and I can't say it's for the better! Politicians lie with audacity and have no compunction to steal from the hungry and the homeless. There are apps and sites that promote adultery, and pornography, and people who are against abortion are insulted. Women jiggle and sing on TV in next to nothing! No, I do not feel like I belong!

Yet I can still sing new songs to the Lord! For His mercies are new every morning! And I know in every dark shadow, there is a light shining...even in the remotest region of the world! I just need to open my eyes to what God is doing. He keeps His promises, and I wait in faith, and journey with all the other pilgrims, to my promised land!