Be alright...

​          Some days ago I listened to a song sung by Dante Bowe and Amanda Cook entitled, “Be alright.” From the first time that I heard it, it caught my attention. It is dedicated to those going through different challenges – those who are lonely, discouraged, even those waiting to see the fruit of all their hard work and effort. The song transcends a variety of situations that any number of people might be facing and yet the end encouragement is the same – it’ll be alright.
         I think many times we get fed up of hearing that seemingly “clichéd” line that is honestly meant to give encouragement and strength. When the situation you are in seems never-ending, and there is no finish line in sight it is so much easier to simply give up, stop hoping, stop praying, stop wishing, stop trying...
          I once again think of my most written about Bible character of the last few posts, David. David had a promise. The prophet Samuel had anointed him to be the new king in front of his father and brothers (1 Samuel 16). Yet it took him several years before that promotion came to pass (2 Samuel 5). In the interim? He faced hell! The then king Saul became jealous of him and literally hunted him down to kill him. David was on the run for years not understanding why this was even happening to him, why the king was trying to kill him for no apparent reason. There seemed to be no end in sight to his trials, yet, David trusted in His God. And this is what this song is about. It’s not about trusting in yourself or your ability to deliver, that’s God’s job.
          I can also think about Abraham and Sarah waiting many years for God’s promise of a child and having no clue how He would bring it to pass when Sarah was barren (Genesis 17:4-6, 15-16). What about Joseph? In a foreign land, rejected by his brothers and separated from his beloved father and younger brother, Benjamin. He had no hope of ever seeing them again and as if that wasn’t enough he faced further unfair treatment and was cast into jail. His situation seemed hopeless and the dream God had given him, totally out of his reach (Genesis 37 & 39). And let’s not forget Job. He faced a series of painful situations that didn’t make sense. And when his friends came to "comfort" him, they seemed to add salt to his wounds. Things were so bad that his wife in her own pain and despair told him to curse God and die ... yet he refused to do so (Job 2:9-10). He chose to trust his God and to not give up on Him even though it didn’t make sense to others.
          I’m thinking of all of this as we are all facing a pandemic that seems to have no immediate end in sight. Yet many  of us were in a pandemic” of our own even before this global one came about. It may have been labelled loneliness, rejection, financial strain, a broken home or marriage, drug addiction, depression, discouragement, health challenges, missed opportunities, broken relationships, and the list goes on. The chorus of the song says, “There’s a new, new day coming... just keep dancing.” That seems like a difficult pill to swallow. How do you “keep dancing,” how do you hold on to hope when every fibre of your being is screaming, “it’s over, forget it, just give up!” 
          Let me answer that with my own life. I can guarantee you that my life has not been perfect. I know discouragement and depression all too well. I know what it’s like to face insurmountable challenges way bigger, higher and stronger than me. I can understand Abraham’s and Sarah’s feelings of wanting a child and having to wait because I have been there and done that. My children came after some years of waiting because of challenges on my part to get pregnant. I can understand Joseph’s and David’s discouragement as they faced unfair situations all the while wondering when God’s promise would come to pass. We can all relate to one or more of these heroes in the Bible but for me, it was in and during these times of pain and uncertainty and fear that God taught me to truly worship and praise Him. That was my outlet, that was my weapon ... worship. God taught me to worship Him at the deepest point of my pain; He taught me to worship Him when it didn’t even make sense. I’m not going to tell you that the answer came right away or even at times the way I wanted it to, but the lessons I learned along the way were invaluable, the strength I gained could not and would not have been gained if my life were nice and perfect.
          God has come through for me time and again and He continues to do so and if He can do it for me, He will most certainly do it for you. The waiting will come to an end; the difficult situation will come to an end. I have learned from my own experiences that tough times really don’t last forever, they do come to an end and when your eyes are fixed on the One who is able to deliver, heal, strengthen, cleanse, save, you will truly have the hope and the future HE has promised. As one part of the chorus of the song says:
          This won’t last forever,
          Baby it’s gonna get better,
          It’ll be alright, alright, alright, alright, alright.
         If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, please do so now. No matter how bad things look, He is truly able to deliver, He will make a way through an impossible situation, He WILL do it, He truly will...

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