It has really been difficult lately. Things don’t seem to be getting easier. Some of the things happening to me have been a bit crazy, and sometimes I wonder what God is doing in all this as a lot of situations don’t make sense. Then doubt sets in as I lose focus of Him. I realized recently though that as my mind lingered on the problems that I was forgetting one of my greatest weapons – praise. I fought through the negative thoughts to praise God and I recognized that my burdens were lifted. I no longer felt like I was carrying a heavy load and the fog decreased as I started seeing God for who He is – the God who is above all other gods, a miracle working God, who is Healer, Provider, Protector. The God who sees me and hears my cries, while being omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. When I started praising, I put Him back in focus and I became fully aware of the fact that He is bigger than any circumstance I am facing and that He is in full control.
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:18-21 NLT
Job had just heard that all his children had died, after hearing his servants were killed, his sheep were burned up and his camels were taken away. He lost so much, and he was a man of sorrow, yet he fell to the ground and worshipped God, still affirming that the Lord has the right to give and take away and He praised the Lord’s name. Job never said that God did wrong even though He grieved and in the end all he had lost was restored double. Although he endured great loss, he was still able to praise God and honor Him, knowing God was to be blessed and all glory was to be ascribed to Him no matter what is happening.
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4 NLT
David understood what Job knew – the Lord should be praised at all times, and the praise to our God is not dependent on circumstances. God is worthy of our praise and honor no matter what. I think the problem that inhibits our praise is that we want God for His blessings, but we do not want God Himself. So, when things don’t go the way we would like it to, it becomes difficult to praise God. It is easy for us to praise Him in the good times, but we find it challenging to praise Him when things are bad. However, God never changes even when circumstances change. He is worthy of our praise and honor no matter what we are going through. We need to have a love for God than transcends our problems and our blessings. Therefore, whether we are experiencing a period of lack or a period of abundance, we will praise God, not because of what He gives, but because of who He is.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. Psalm 63:3-4 NLT
Comments