Life, like any other, has its shares of ups and downs. And mine is not any different. All I can is, the last two weeks of my life, has been, so far, the worst down period during my time here in London. I cannot even count how many days and nights I have cried out to the Lord asking Him, "Why?" Yet, at the end of the day, I can still say, "God is good, God is faithful. Blessed be Your name."

It is always difficult to praise God when one is going through problems or tough times, especially when one does not understand why certain situations happen, for example, death, redundancy etc. And in these situations, it is natural to look for someone to blame. In most cases, God becomes the scapegoat. However, we always have a choice of how we can choose to response:
a) We can choose to be angry and bitter with God, and dwell on it or
b) We can choose to continue praising God and move on with life.

I chose the latter. Why? Because:
a) I did not want to let my bitterness kill my joy,
b) I did not want to dwell on the past,
c) Something worse could have happened to me and it did not,
d) God brought along the right people to pray, support and encourage me,
e) Most of all, God loves me and He sacrificed His son, Jesus, on the cross for me.

Despite what I went through, indeed I can still say, "Blessed be Your name". The song below by Matt Redman best describes my exact feelings now.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take awayYou give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146: 1 - 2