He started to quietly sing as he played. “For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.” He continued to play and started to talk again. “He is the God when we are on the mountain top, when it is all going right, it is easy to see that, it is easy to say that, it is easy to see He is God and He is with you. But He is also God in the valley, when it is tough. He isn’t the God of the valley, he didn’t create the trouble.  That is satan, the thief, the destroyer.  But He is still God in the valley.” He started to sing again, “When things go wrong, he’ll make them right.” Again he played and talked, “Like Job, I didn’t expect trouble but it came. And things went terribly wrong. And his promise to me was he would never leave me. He has kept that promise. All of the things aren’t right yet but they are coming together.” He continued singing, “And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times, the God of the day, is still God in the night.”

He stopped playing. “If things aren’t going right for you, He is still God. And He is still there as your rock and your fortress, your high tower, your strength.”

He picked up playing and singing just as if he had not stopped, “You talk of faith when life seems so easy, and faith comes so easy when life’s at it’s best. Down in the valley of trials and temptation, that’s where your faith is really put to the test.” He went back to the chorus and did it two more times, then dropped to playing quietly as he talked. “If any of you have felt you lost your faith, take it from me, it may be in the background but it is still there. God gave it to you as a measure, it is there. This world can be tough. If you faith has been battered, renew it tonight.”

He played for a few minutes, then stopped and looked up. “Can I just be real with all of you?”  He looked around and saw nods.  “I haven’t sung publicly since I lost my wife to cancer. I treated God as the God of the good times but not still God in the bad times.  That was what I had to do tonight. Thank you all for listening.” He stood up and started to walk off the stage. Clapping started all over the room. People stood up and cheered. He continued to the back of the room, took Karen’s hand and walked to the front with her and helped her on the stage and picked up a mic. The rest of the band had no idea what he was doing.  They looked at the leader.  He shrugged and motioned them to hold in place.

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Karen Chapter 12: Karen and Darin Get Together Again

Karen Chapter 14: Karen Surprises Him with Song