Sing to the Lord a new song

Ever get those dark spells, when it feels like life is pressing down?  When even your daily Bible reading is just there and God isn't speaking to you through it?  And you pray and pray and feel like David crying out for God because even though you know He's there, you can't feel His presence?  These past couple weeks had sure been a lot like that around here.  A spiritual drought of sorts, it felt, if I can mix metaphors here.

And then you start to see a cloud on the horizon.  Chance of rain?

Momentum starts building again, little by little.  A verse here, a quote there, a comment from a friend along the way, and things start to look up.  Heh, that's actually pretty accurate.  In the darkness, in the drought, it's hard to look UP, because you're so focused on what's happening  or not happening around you.

But then that moment comes where the rain starts to fall.  If you've ever lived in the desert, that first rainfall after the months of dry is unlike any other.  You just want to go outside and be washed by it, to let it soak you and dance around in it.

The past hours have been like that.  It began with 2 Chronicles 20 last night right before bed (again ~ this chapter has been coming up for me over and over in the past month or so).  King Jehoshaphat is facing vast armies that are surrounded from all directions, and goes to the Lord in prayer, praising Him in advance for deliverance.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
 ¹⁸ Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. ¹⁹ Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
 ²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” ²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his^[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
   “Give thanks to the LORD,
   for his love endures forever.”
 ²² As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 

The night brought a dream that involved prayer and singing (note: I'm NOT a singer. at least not in public or on tune :)  ). and then this morning's scheduled Bible reading continued the theme:

So I'm soaking this morning in new songs, singing praises to the Lord, and ascribing to the Lord his mighty deeds.  And wondering how it is all going to end up playing out, while knowing that the One who will make it happen not only knows the ending, but all the steps from here to there.