Psalm 105:43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy.

I can’t read this section of this Psalm without singing a song made from the KJV translation that I learned about 43 years ago. Music is certainly a powerful memory aid! That said, we don’t need to just remember words, but what those words mean. This whole Psalm is a recitation of God’s mighty works on behalf of Israel, but we must not forget that they had been in pretty rough circumstances. Slavery in Egypt was no walk in the park! One reason God allows us to go through rough places is to give us an appreciation for the smooth places. A Japanese proverb says, “Only the sick understand health.” We have a strong tendency to take things for granted, and indeed, familiarity does breed contempt. American leftists today think as they do because they are spoiled by the good circumstances brought by American capitalistic initiative. (Actually, even the word, Capitalism, was invented by Karl Marx in an attempt at negative branding, but history has shown that allowing people to keep what they work for is the only way to genuine widespread prosperity.) When we experience rough patches, we need to thank God for His grace and blessings in the past and for His good plans for the future, thanking Him even for the present as a counterpoint to help us appreciate the rest. As this verse says, coming out of a rough place is indeed a joyful thing!

This is very timely, considering what we’ve been going through with Cathy’s nerve pain. For that matter, at this moment we’re still in a typhoon, though the center has passed over us in the night. I’m very grateful for a secure dwelling, and for good infrastructure that has kept the power on and the Internet connected. And, I’m looking forward to not hearing the gale-force winds blowing around the building. This storm is supposed to drop temperatures and usher in autumn, and I’m certainly looking forward to that! Tomorrow we will be going to Sasebo to check Cathy in at the hospital, and we have high expectations of that in terms of pain relief. However, we need to keep our focus on the Great Physician, rather than on human staff. We are to express appreciation to them, but remember where genuine wisdom and healing come from. Even if the result of the treatment is the worst possible, we need to remember that God’s love is unchanging, and He will indeed bring us forth with joy, in His time and His way, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how things went yesterday, typhoon and all. I pray that we would recognize Your schedule for today and follow it, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!