Matt Redman - Finding God in the Hard Times: Choosing to Trust and Hope When You Cant See the Way

Stunned!

Shocked by circumstance!

Set back!

Shaken by lifes earthquakes!

Weve all gone through difficult times, but not all of us have managed them wellat least not when we were hit by the first of the many collisions that are a part of life. At some time, we will go through overwhelming and staggering events that will seem to shatter our lifes horizon. These events come like lightning boltsunpredictable and blindingonly to be inescapably followed by the rolling thunder of whatever aftermath the unwelcome eventuality brings.

Matt and Beth Redman have experienced such events and, as a result, not only have they given us a wonderful song to assist us in the face of such circumstances, but they also offer this book to encourage us. If youve been there, done that when it comes to having experienced trials that, while not shaking your faith, have left you shaken with questions, then youll be blessed as Matt and Beth share these letters and their own stories of how in the midst of lifes shattering moments, the Holy Spirit can bring us stability in the presence of the One who alone is able to calm our fears and address our questions with himself the ultimate and only adequate Answer.

This song became an anchor to the life of our daughter Rebecca, as well as to the entire congregation at The Church On The Way , when Scott Bauer, Rebeccas husband, our son-in-law, and the congregations senior pastor, died almost instantly at age forty-nine due to a massive hemorrhage from a brain aneurysm. In what we see as the prime of life, a beloved husband, father, and shepherd was suddenly transported to his eternal home. And while the confidence of his being present with the Lord heldand yes, holds great spiritual comfort, derived from our faith in Jesus Christ, when such a shocking event occurs, seldom does immediate consolation come to the raw surfaces of our emotionality or the rough edges of our minds reasoning.

God isnt offended by this. Indeed, Jesus tears at Lazaruss tombeven in the face of His knowing that He was about to raise Lazarus from the deadare enough to assure us that He understands our grieving over lifes losses, trials, or shaking circumstances. We do have a place of refuge in, and recourse to, the One who is touched with the feeling (Hebrews 4:15 KJV ) of our weaknesses, pain, and struggles.

We, and our church family, tasted that compassion when Matt and Beths God-given song became rich ministry to us and became a balm of healing in the congregations life. Rebecca had called me the day after Scott died and said, Dad, could we sing Blessed Be Your Name on Sunday? I keep playing and singing it over and over here at home.

To my chagrin, I had to admit that I didnt know the song. Because Scott had assumed the oversight of the church, my travels had disallowed my keeping current with the congregations worship repertoire. But I learned Matt and Beths song that Sunday, and I can hardly describe the progressive infusion of faith it gave useven more, the joy beyond sorrow that spread through all of usduring those first days after Scotts homegoing. We sang: