Even in the midst of grieving, the psalmist came to a place of thanksgiving. In Old Testament worship, the word “thanksgiving” shows up a lot. It’s essentially a time of expressing gratitude to God for His presence, grace, and mercy. The calling upon the name of the Lord could be done as a confession—asking forgiveness for wrongdoing or doubt; it could also be a proclamation—acknowledging the Lord’s delivery or comfort. Calling upon His name invites His presence and, even when we’re deeply grieving, His presence gives us rest. So if you’re grieving a loss today (a loved one, a job, a relationship, or anything else that matters deeply to you), feel the pain. Cry if you need to. But grieve with hope. Live with hope before others. I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 116, because it truly is a psalm of love and thanksgiving for our LORD’s deliverance. Believe me when I tell you we are secure in His love in this life, and we are secure in Him in our death, because of Jesus Christ
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