Yes I Will
Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
[This is the eleventh devotion in a series of twelve songs that have impacted us during our grief journey]
For better or worse…
Those words are beautiful when they are said on a wedding day as a couple begins their journey together but they take on a whole new meaning when a couple celebrates their 50th, 60th, or 70th anniversary. For better or worse is a vow of commitment. When that vow has been lived out it takes on a unique beauty because it has moved from words to experience.
When I put my faith in Jesus Christ, I made a commitment of faith. I chose to follow Him. The life I have lived since that day has moved my vow from words to experience. My faith cannot be dependent on my lack of suffering. In life we will suffer loss, pain, and disappointment. This suffering reveals the depths of our commitments. Choosing to follow God even in the lowest valleys is evidence of our faith. Trusting that God is working things out even when we don’t understand requires faith.
The song Yes I Will has almost acted as a renewing of my vow. It has been a difficult song to sing at times. It states that I will sing for joy when my heart is heavy. Each time I sing those words I feel it in the depths of my soul because that is what grieving with faith is. I can sing for joy because I know where my son is today but my heart is still heavy because I miss him every moment of my life. This is the struggle.
Faithfulness is celebrated when couples reach anniversary milestones. For better or worse love found a way. Love will carry us through the depths of our grief. When I reach Heaven I long to hear the words “good and faithful servant” because my faith stood firm through better and worse.
I count on one thing
The same God that never fails
Will not fail me now
You won't fail me now
In the waiting
The same God who's never late
Is working all things out
You're working all things out
Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
All my days, oh yes I will
I count on one thing
The same God that never fails
Will not fail me now
You won't fail me now
In the waiting
The same God who's never late
Is working all things out
Is working all things out
Oh, yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
For all my days, oh yes I will
For all my days, oh yes, I will
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
And I choose to praise
To glorify, to glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
Oh, yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
All my days, oh yes, I will
For all my days, oh yes, I will
For all my days, yes, I will
