Oh, FreedomSample

The choir members’ harmonies rang through the church as they recorded an iconic gospel song: “I don’t feel no ways tired . . .” Sitting with my mother amid hundreds of church members, I marveled at the beautiful Black faces all around, stretching their hands to God while singing, “I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.” I marveled at my mother, who had recently lost her home, marriage, and whose health had begun to fade.

Later, on the way home, I asked, “How can you sing, with all that’s wrong?” She stated, “God is good. I’m going to sing anyhow.”

David experienced tremendous loss before becoming king of Israel. On the run from jealous King Saul, narrowly escaping enemy hands, hiding in caves, David cried to God in his troubles. Yet, on reflection, David also declared: “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1). He invited others to worship: “Oh magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His name together” (v. 2). David sang anyhow, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous” (v. 15).

We can always call on Him. The praises we sing uplift our spirit and God strengthens us to press on, and be confident that, amid our changes, He is unchanging. He “inhabits the praises of His people” (Psalm 22:3 KJV). -Anthony Cobbs