02/14/2022
There are seasons when we find ourselves facing trials, or suffering in some way or another. Times like this are common as we walk through our earthly lives. Sometimes it seems like there is not a mountain to be found, and that we are walking from valley to valley. We long for even a glimpse of a rise on the horizon, but there are none. So, how do we keep moving on? Where can we find hope, or even dream of joy. We do so by looking up towards God, and not out at the horizon. We sing songs and psalms to Jesus, letting each footfall become the beat that keeps time for us. If we find ourselves in hopelessness, then let’s take that first step forward, then another, until at last we hear the refreshing beat of a new life, and our voice begins humming, and then singing the name “Jesus!”
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Ephesians 5:19-20 ESV
My earthly father rose early each morning, cooked breakfast for our family, woke me for school, ate with me, and then dressed himself for work. Every morning, like clockwork, I could hear him whistling happily as I approached the kitchen. It usually lifted my spirits, but one morning I was facing a very hard day, and was in a terrible mood because of it. On this morning I seated myself at the table, then snapped at him… “How can you be so darned happy every morning!?” I was miserable and wanted him to be too.
He was quiet for a moment, and then in a sad voice he said… “I’m not. I am convincing myself.” Then after a brief pause he slowly started to whistle again, and in a moment he was whistling cheerfully once more. This time I knew that I had become one of the reasons he was whistling, and it broke my heart. That morning he taught me a life lesson that applied not only to him, and how he would whistle to find joy in his life, but how I, and each one of us, can find hope, and joy, simply by humming, singing, and even whistling joyfully to our Lord.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalm 100:1-4 ESV
My father is gone now, and I remember all the lessons he taught me through the years, but none so vividly as how to face sadness, and the hard times in life. When I am confronted by tribulation, and the hope in my life is fleeting, I turn to a song, a tune whistled to convince myself that God is with me. There will be mornings when each of us will wake up in pain or to face some manner of suffering, and we will wonder how we can make it through that day. Perhaps now you too can benefit, as I have all these years, by whistling a happy song to the Lord, or Jesus. My favorite is a scriptural song… “This is the day that the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24), and I sing it over and over again until I have convinced myself that He is there with me as I face my day.
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.”
Psalm 71:23-24 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for every Hymn, every psalm, and each simple tune that We hum to you. Thank you for the joy we find welling up within us as we lift our voices to you. Help us to sing in the presence of our enemies, and whistle away the sadness of our sorrows every morning. Teach us to look up towards you when there is not a mountain in sight, and lift us up on eagle’s wings from the valleys we find ourselves in. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who never abandons us, not even when we must convince ourselves that you are our strong tower, and all is not lost. We praise your name as we sing to you, and hear your voice joining us. Merciful are you Lord as you lift up our spirits with every note we hear, and every tune we whistle. Your grace is like a song that comes to us from your glorious mouth, and heals our every wound. The blood of Jesus washes over us, gurgling like a brook, and soothing our fears as it cleanses us. Help us Holy Father to lift our faces to you, and join with the heavenly choir as we heal ourselves in song to you. Let us hear your voice as you call out our names, and pronounce us worthy in Christ. Let the rhythm of eternal life dry every tear, and bring joy to where once there was only sorrow… sing oh my soul, for my God lifts me in His song forevermore.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.”
Zephaniah 3:17-20 ESV
Rich Forbes