My phone buzzed this morning with a notification. It was a message from my sister. One of my favorite aunts passed away this morning. When I read her name on my phone her face flashed into my mind. She was smiling. Her hand on her hip. Her head tilted to the side. It was her. And my heart’s immediate response was, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
She was well-loved and she loved well. She will be greatly missed. But if my aunt could tell us what she is seeing, thinking and feeling right now, in her brand-new state of being in the presence of our Lord, there is no doubt she would say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord,” and she’d add a few more exclamations like, “Glory!” “Hallelujah!” and “Praise Him!”
Whatever earthly doubts she may have had about God’s love for her have vanished forever in His embrace. Whatever issues she may have had with how he responded (or didn’t respond) to her prayers have disappeared in the light of His magnificence. Whatever sorrows on earth she experienced, she now considers then unworthy to even be compared to the overwhelming glory that is now revealed to her.
For those of us who remain, we do not have to wait until we leave this life to trust in the One whom we shall see after this life. All the things my aunt is experiencing “there” are true of Him right now. Though we see it dimly and must receive it by faith, His majesty, His power, His wisdom, and His love for us is as true right now as it will be when we see Him face-to-face. His name is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, whatever your situation may be today, may God also give you grace to believe and say from the heart, “Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever more” (Psalm 113:2).
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