The Lord Gives and Takes Away

When I was initially diagnosed with my allergies I went through a period of having many mixed emotions: grief/anger/depression/denial. I literally cried about saying "good-bye" to pizza (allergic to the cheese, the sauce, the crust). After about a month of this, God convicted me that He had given me this medical condition and I needed to accept it--and start living my life with these new challenges trusting in His sovereignity. During this process I remember singing this song by Tree63 during Sunday morning worship and on the radio in the car. I recently heard it again and was reminded of what God has been teaching me.

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
Blessed be your name

When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

The Lord certainly has given us food for both our need and our enjoyment. There are many foods that are simply for our pleasure and not necessary to live. The Lord has freely given us (especially as Amercians) more than enough in "the food department!" This song convicted me that since food was a gift from God it was also His to take away and I was not to question that, but rather bless and praise His name. As this song indicates, we are to praise in the good times ("in the land that is pleantiful, where streams of abundance flow"), but also in the "bad" -- "when the darkness closes in...on the road marked with suffering." The interesting thing is that the "bad" or hard times are the times when we are being molded more into the image of Christ. They feel "bad" but aren't necessarily viewed that way by God. He has greater purposes at work--my sanctification and His glory. Therefore, "bad" circumstances are really "the best" circumstances. I am still learning that through each reaction, each loss of a new food I find bothers me, each time I look longingly at what someone else is eating, I am to praise God. Praise Him that I can infact still eat MANY foods! Praise Him that overall I have a healthy body. Praise Him that He has helped me through each step of this journey. Praise Him most of all that I have Christ; that He is my Bread of Life