Life is Hard, But God is Good

God brought to mind a kind of ugly time in my life when I was the leader of a summer music team. I had the privilege of leading a 6 member guy-girl team on a tour singing in churches and concerts from Illinois to California and back. I was young, (22) arrogant, and pretty stupid. The team consisted of 4 women and two guys. (counting myself) One of the gals mom's had been battling cancer and had been making good progress. Just after school let out, her mom took a turn for the worse. She went home for a week but than returned to start our week of intense music rehearsals as a team. (think music boot camp: singing 4-5 hours a day) So she sang and prepared all of the while not knowing if she would see her mom this side of heaven.

Thus our team began its fearless 9 week tour with the knowledge that this gal's mom may die soon and we may be short a member at some point. Being the poor leader that I was, I didn't bother to really pray and really encourage this gal on our team as I should have. And than one morning, we gathered back at the church from where we had been staying the night before, and this gal was gone. Her mom had passed away in the night and she had caught an early morning flight home. Thus, the tour continued without her for almost a full week and she returned. We honestly thought she wouldn't return, but she wanted to and did.

During our concerts, we would rotate singing solos between all of the singers on the team. Sometime after this gal returned to our team, it was her turn. She got up and started sharing a brief testimony of her mom's death and then began to sing. I had heard her sing the song before her mom's death, but for some reason, this night, the message clicked. The song was called "Life is Hard, But God is Good." All of these years later, I stand in awe of this gal who sang truth when it wasn't easy to sing truth. Her testimony was truly of the Lord and a real inspiration to me. I wish I could say that I was the most sensitive and godly leader and encouraged her with how God had used her in my life; I didn't say it. (Sidenote: I just sent her an email sharing this story with her today.)

It has been seven years since that tour occurred and I still remember that night as if it was last night. That song has stayed with me and this week has become my heart's cry. The truth that she sang and gave testimony of is the truth of God's word. My life right now reflects that title. Life is hard with so many trials in my family, my home church, my personal life, as well as with training. But the fact of the matter is that God is Good in what he chooses to bring into my life and those lives of people I love and care about. Through tears, I share the words of David as he too struggled with life but rested in God's sustaining power.

I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!

I am oppressed and needy! May the sovereign Master pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay! (Psalm 40:1-3, 17) (NET)

Here is that song. The video is okay, but the music is what I truly enjoy.