Job 1:21b

As a familiar passage and worship song, these words take on a whole different meaning depending on what is happening in your life at the moment. Imagine you’ve been out of work and are finally offered a job? What about the one whom the Lord brings a helpmate? What about the one whose health has been restored? But, what if the Lord now decides to take it all away? Will you still love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and strength? As painful as it is to have something we love taken away, we must remember the Lord has a plan for us that was established long ago. We are simply living out those plans. That same perfect will nailed Jesus to the cross for the atonement of our sins. When He was on the cross, you and I were on His mind.

So what does God give? He gives eternal life. He gives comfort to those in need. He gives tender mercies that are new each day. He gives a hope and a future; He gives peace that passes all understanding. God gives unconditional love.

And what does He take away? He takes away my sin. He takes away my doubts and fears. He takes away my selfishness. He takes away the addictions of my past. He takes away my hopelessness. He takes away my anger and replaces it with joy. Now, that’s something to sing about. He gives and takes away…Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

With a song in my heart,

Tom Moore