When things are going well, it seems natural to praise God. However, when my world appears to be shattered, praising God can feel strange. That is correct. So what happens when we praise God in difficult times?
This is why God rejoices when I do it, and it transforms my life in the process.
There is no doubt that the Word instructs me to continue praising the Lord regardless of my circumstances.
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 KJV
What a challenge this has been in my Christian life. Too often I want to “bless the LORD” with my praise only when all seems right with my world.
When it appears to my near-sighted soul that He has withheld His blessings from me-for example, when tragedy or trouble strikes-I want to withdraw my praise.
In the midst of adversity, it’s all too easy to say, “I’ll praise Him when things get better-when He’s blessing me again.”
The truth is that God never ceases to bless me. He lavishes His grace on me every day and at every moment of the day. He helps me get through my problems if I’m willing to accept it. Even if my circumstances change, his love for me does not.
Praises can cease when I start judging God- accusing Him of bringing calamity to my life for all sorts of unholy reasons. The truth is God remains holy and righteous through every season of my life. His opinion of me does not change simply because I believe it does or because my perception of Him becomes distorted. He is not punishing me through trials simply because my rebellious soul thinks so.
When my brother my pastor died of covid, there was a part of me that wanted to stop praising God. How can I give thanks to a God who refused to intervene to save this precious life? But those thoughts were fleeting as I resolved to remain in praise regardless of my emotions.
As I’ve stayed in the Word, particularly the Psalms, I’ve been reminded that God is worthy of all my praise. God be praised! I’ve thought about everything He’s brought me through. God be praised! I’ve remembered how He has carried me when I’ve felt too weak to go on, both in this tragedy and in previous disasters. God be praised!
Not only do I thank God for His faithfulness in the past and in my current difficulties, but I also thank Him for His promise to be faithful in the future. I’m looking forward to seeing what He does next to continue to bring good out of this latest heartbreak, as He has done with every challenge in my life.
I’m still going through the valley of grief. This month is hard because it’s my pastor’s birthday. Suddenly at times I’ve felt overwhelmed with guilt and anger again. Guilt over not doing more to encourage and reach out. Anger at the devil’s taunts that he has triumphed in this tragedy.
When I consider what has occurred from God’s point of view, I see Him bringing triumph from tragedy. Hearts are drawn closer to Him and to one another. I’ve never felt more connected to the Lord.
My heart echoes what David said in Psalm 43:5 …for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV) Will you say and do the same?
Why praise God
So, instead of looking back at the end of your life and wishing you had praised more, begin now. Here are four reasons why you should not wait.
Praise is where God lives. Wait a minute, isn’t God omnipresent — present everywhere, at all times? Absolutely! However, His presence is especially strong in a praise-filled environment. According to the Bible, God is
Praise chases away despair.
There is no better way to get rid of the blues than to shift our focus from ourselves to God. Such a shift results in “the oil of gladness rather than mourning” (Isaiah 61:3).
He comforts us when we’re going through tough times.
Psalm 30:11 says: “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” and 2 Corinthians 1:3 says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
Praise is an effective weapon against the devil.
I am convinced that Satan, who was once the good angel Lucifer and God’s praise leader (Isaiah 14), was expelled from heaven and doomed to destruction because of his desire to be like God. Since then, he has despised praise because it reminds him of what he has lost and cannot regain.
Praise makes it easier to approach God.
Obviously, it is Jesus’ blood that allows us to be forgiven of our sins and have a relationship with God (Hebrews 10:19). Having said that, our unending praise provides a clear and unobstructed path. As a result,
“enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
He grants upon us his incredible peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6–7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” and John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” I do not give you what the world gives you. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor be afraid.”
What God says about hard times?
Psalm 9:9–10 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
James 1:2–4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Jeremiah 29:11–13 “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God has a plan for all of us and this verse from Jeremiah explains that perfectly. When we trust in this plan and seek God with all our heart, good things will happen.
How to praise God in difficult times
When things get tough, it’s easy to lose faith, but if we lean into Him instead of walking away, our faith will grow and blessings will come our way.
How do you maintain faith in the face of adversity? God be praised. Yes, praising God in the midst of adversity is an effective tool. If you are God’s temple, the same joy that comes from praising God in Church can come from praising God anywhere.
In times of trouble, the power of praise is that His joy bubbles up inside of you and covers you in peace. You will say, as I do, “I will praise God at all times” after experiencing that power.
How to stay positive even in hard times
Keep faith in the face of adversity? Every day, it appears that the world’s events are becoming darker and darker. If there is one thing I wish God would promise, it would be this: “When you follow me, you will have no problems!” “ He couldn’t keep that promise after the world had fallen into sin. He did, however, warn us that we would encounter difficulties, and he offers us advice and assistance along the way until we see him again.
Many mornings, my first thought is, “How can I continue to hold on to faith when I am feeling despair, depression, and sadness?” When we are in need of assistance, we will turn to anyone or anything for a glimmer of hope or a way out. Of course, the answers will vary depending on who you ask. Many of us turn to the wrong friends or rely on our own wisdom and understanding, Here are Ways to Keep Faith in Difficult Times
1.Lean Into Your Existing Faith
All you need is a mustard seed’s worth of faith. Do you realize how insignificant that is? Simply choose to be faithful even when there is no visible finish line and no sense of relief. Instead of distancing yourself from God because you are unhappy with the outcome of your situation, lean into Him. Prepare to push through the discomfort that comes with trusting in something you can’t see.
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)
2.Ask for Strength and Guidance in your prayers.
During the pain, pray that God will guide your steps and keep you strong. You will be tempted to try to control the situation, which is why you must pray during your weak moments.
“Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
When I fail and begin to feel weak I remember that God gave me a spirit of power, love, and self-control; not of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7) So I know I was born with a powerful spirit; I just may not be exercising it.
3.Plant your seed in fertile soil.
When you feel the weight of the struggle on your back plant your seed in a fertile soil. Surround yourself with supportive friends, read the Bible, memorize a Bible verse, listen to an online sermon, or ask someone you care about to pray with you.
Aside from reading the Bible and praying, what works best for me? I put on my headphones and listen to Joyce Meyer’s encouraging and strengthening message on You Tube. The hard times will come, but remember that you are living for a greater purpose.
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:15)
4.Maintain Your Faith and Be Consistent
Consistency hasn’t always come easily to me. Sometimes I find myself not sowing the right seeds in my life, which causes my own problems. In this article, “Let God Plant Seeds of Hope in Your Life,” I tell my story.
When I do exercise faith and blindly trust God, however, those are the days when I begin to feel joy. Joy is not the same as happiness. It is possible to have joy in your heart while going through the most difficult times of your life.
The only way to capture that joy is to cast your cares on God, trust in Him, and remain faithful because He is always faithful and always keeps his promises.
Books That Will Help You Through Difficult Times
Do you ever feel like your life is going in the wrong direction? Could you benefit from a reminder that God is in control?
When a tragedy occurs, people desperately seek answers. Both believers and nonbelievers are turning to God. The best-selling author assures us that, while it will not be easy or painless, God will use this mess for good. You can find the book here.
God Will Use This for Good: Surviving the Mess of Life
An inspiring read in which the authors draw on personal experiences and hardships and explore how to offer praise even in the face of pain. Setting their focus on the psalms, the authors illustrate how hard or tragic circumstances can lead us toward God or away from Him, build up faith, or break it. A short read, you can breeze through this in a day, but it is worth spending more time on. find the book here
Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Is irrational anxiety your constant companion? Let God help you win the war on worry and receive the lasting peace of Christ. Find the book here
Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
READ MORE
