Welcome from the Dean

A MESSAGE from the DEAN

Dear Friends,

Through the centuries, suffering Christians have discovered something that on the surface makes no sense — and I recommend it to you today. When things are chaotic around you, when you are suffering, if you’ve lost a job or a loved one — praise the Lord!

I don’t mean “praise the Lord” as a cliché; I literally mean to sing praises to God. Raise your voice to the Lord in praise for all the good things that the Lord has done for you, despite the current challenges you are facing. You’ll find the most amazing result is that fortitude — a solidness, an endurance — for your challenge will begin to swell up in your heart.

“You will make known to me the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” — Psalm 16:11

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge.” — Nehemiah 8:10

God inhabits the praises of His people. Praising the Lord when you don’t understand the circumstances is a raw demonstration of walking in faith.

As you go through your own struggles, praise the Lord and experience the fullness of the joy of God’s presence, and then live in that joy of the Lord as your strength!

Selah,

Kenyon Knapp, Ph.D., LPC, NCC

Dean