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Tony Evans tells how his father once treated his younger brother. His brother said he would rather leave home than obey his father. So, his father took him upstairs and helped him pack his suitcase. He walked out of the house not realizing he had no job, no money, and no car. Twenty minutes later, he was back, ready to submit to his dad. We often learn to submit to God after hard knocks. That is how the author of Psalm 66 learned to adore God. He begins by celebrating God’s majesty saying, “Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.’” Then the author explains how he learned to adore God so much. He says, “You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. We went through the fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.” The psalmist learned to thank God even for tough times. He knew that God had used difficulties to refine His character and teach him to trust God more fully. God’s blessings often follow His tests. So, both good and bad days are gifts from God.
