Just four days after the September 11 attacks on New York City’s Twin Towers, songwriter Matt Redman and his wife, Beth, started a sabbatical in Los Angeles. The effects of the traumatic, tragic, terroristic event that gripped the United States started to sink in. The nation was gripped by fear, uncertainty, loss, pain, grief, and death. “Brokenness was everywhere, and many people sought some kind of comfort in the church,” Matt writes in his book Blessed Be Your Name.

The question on how to help the people of God “find a voice in worship at this tragic time” and the powerful biblical messages of encouragement they received from different congregations inspired Matt and Beth to write the song of lament, Blessed Be Your Name. Though birthed during that particular period, Matt says that it was not for a specific event but out of a general “realization that we will all face seasons of pain or unease. And in these seasons we will need to find our voice before God.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father,
If the person reading this is undergoing difficult circumstances in her life right now, I pray You would speak to her Your comfort and Your compassion in ways that she can understand. May she be able to cast all her burdens to You and hear Your voice beyond her current pain in Jesus’s name amen.

Blessed Be Your Name
By Matt Redman

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name