Then.

Then.

A simple, common word. Used so often in daily life. Certainly not really a word to give cause to pause and think on. Its use in conversation suggests something more, an action, a consequence, a result. It’s a partnership – a before

Somehow this week, I have found myself singing the refrain to “How Great Thou Art.”

“Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art”

As I sang just the chorus of this wonderful Hymn, it was the “then” that captured my attention. THEN sings my soul – what has happened to cause my soul to sing? My soul sings for a reason, the result of something that preceded THEN.

I recall the verses of this Hymn.

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

The answers laid out. My soul sings of how great is our God when I marvel at His creation, that displays His glory. My soul sings when I think of Jesus dying on the cross and taking away my sin.

Sometimes life can crowd out our praise of God. The challenges we face can loom larger and louder than our awareness of God. We can become focused on the lack, the hard, the hurt in our lives causing us to struggle to see God in the midst.

All we have to do is look around at creation to see His hand in it all. To remind ourselves of Jesus’ sacrifice and our soul once again free to focus on how great is God.

May we find our THEN everyday.