I've had this song stuck in my head for a long time now, maybe since the CCYM Retreat in February. I finally broke down and bought a copy off iTunes, and have played it over 30 times in the last few weeks. Aside from it being catchy, I find this to be a profound statement of faith. Whether in good times (in the land that is plentiful), or bad (in the desert and wilderness), the songwriter claims that he will still praise the name of the Lord. Whether in the midst of suffering or blessings, he'll praise God and His glory.

That seems to clash against what we learn from our culture. We're taught, whether we realize it or not, that we should thank someone when they do something good to us and get mad at them when we're not doing as well. Basically, we're taught that our circumstances determine our treatment of others (and most importantly, God).

But that's not what we find in the Bible. Job was a man who was very successful but then lost everything. Here's what Job says after hearing that his children had just died: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart from this world. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21)

Whether good or bad, Job praises God's name....... why?! Is that something you would do? Do you treat anyone like this? Your parents, teachers, elders? I'm really curious to hear what you all have to say on this topic. Does God deserve to be praised, even when bad things happen to you?



Jr. High: Do you remember what the coach said about winning and losing in the movie Facing the Giants? If so, put it in the Comments section.