More and more it seems that suffering and hurt are prevalent everywhere we look. Maybe you have recently lost your job or you are living with a chronic illness…. Maybe you are grieving a loss or have recently been handed a major disappointment. If you are hurting right now while reading this, know that your tender, loving Father has His arms open and He is always ready to hold you if you just let Him. Many people who are hurting today are cursing God and some believers have abandoned God. They did not have Christ as their solid foundation. It is so important to have a strong faith through the best of times so when the winds blow, we will not be moved. Trials and hard times come for a reason and that is to grow closer to our Father. So, how can we praise Him during the darkest hours? Let us look at scripture for some clear examples.
Remembering Christ
2 Timothy 2:8-9 says, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” Remembrance of Christ and His death at Golgotha needs to be the centerpiece through which we praise God in the hard times. When we suffer, we can remember that He suffered, and His suffering gave us freedom! This is one reason some leave the faith…they forgot what even brought them into God’s loving hand. Praise be to God, our Almighty King, that gave us the final sacrifice to atone for our sins!
Trials and hard times come for a reason and that is to grow us ever closer to our Heavenly Father.
Prayer
Every time we connect with God in prayer, we are praising Him because we are acknowledging our need to set our burdens on His strong shoulders. Isaiah 25:4a says, “For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” These are things we can praise Him for while we are praying! He takes care of His children! Even in the darkest part of the storm, He is there as a stronghold to keep us standing against the crashing waves and raging winds. A woman on her knees in prayer can stand before any tragedy.
Through Song
When you read Psalms, you can find so many verses about God’s children singing praise even in the midst of hard times. David writes in Psalm 142:4b-7, “No one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “you are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” This particular psalm was a written prayer, but it could just as well be sung. So many songs today are written straight from the Psalms. One particular song that has always touched my heart on this issue of hard times and suffering is “There Will be a Day” by Jeremy Camp. This song always brings tears to my eyes as it offers so much hope! What songs speak to your heart as you praise your Father?
Time in the Word
Anything that we do as Christians that focuses our time on God brings Him glory and praise. When we look to His word for healing and guidance, we again are telling God that we need Him and we praise Him for His sovereign nature in all circumstances. In Hebrews 4:15-16 it says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This is a passage of love that speaks to all who are hurting. Jesus was tempted in every way so we can be completely firm in our belief in Him. My fellow sisters, write these verses on your hearts. We can have confidence in our Father in all circumstances. Stay in the word! It can heal the brokenhearted.
Fasting
Fasting is an outlet that provides a spiritual and physical reliance on God. Fasting is not set on any particular facet. Many people fast from food for an extended amount of time, but fasting really involves giving up anything that means a lot to you in order to spend time with God instead. This is a precious way to praise Him! When you fast you stop “me” and focus on Him. He has sustained me every time I have fasted. The spiritual bond always grows with fasting because God is feeding that bond as you rely on Him…and you are creating the space He so desperately needs to move!
Forgiveness
Forgiveness always reflects praise on the Father. We forgive out of obedience to Christ. We forgive because it is always the right thing to do. There is real spiritual maturity and growth when we can look at specific people who have wronged us personally and forgive them. This is because sin always comes from the devil and not from the individuals themselves. There is massive spiritual warfare fighting for us every day. Satan’s legion of demons are always hunting. It is our job as believers to always forgive those who trespass against us. The true fault is always against the devil and his wicked schemes. Even Christ on the cross asked His Father to forgive those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34). May we all strive to be like that! Praise be to our Sustainer in all circumstances! The next time you are having trouble with another person, remember that your battle is NOT with them and it is not of the flesh…. Your battle is a spiritual one and your Mighty Creator is BIG enough to guide you and sustain you to forgive.
I would love to hear all about how YOU show God praise through the hard times! Please leave me a comment below all about how He is your Sustainer and Redeemer!
Blessings,
Coach Megan 🙂
About Megan Smidt, CCLC
Thank you for a much needed blog. Ok, really, a much needed kick in the backside 🙂 <3
May God get all the glory!! Love you, Amy!!
We live in a self-absorbed society. Every where we turn, the question is, “what’s in it for me?” Where is Gods glory in that kind of thinking?
I like to think that I intentionally use my rebellious nature to purposefully react differently from the world. I take it as a personal challenge.
As you should expect, I feel alone and isolated from those around me. I give God my feelings of loneliness and injustice and pray that He would receive the glory from my life lived on this earth, in this time.
Well said, sister!! Thank God He is our best friend <3
i loved to read through those different suggestions of ways to praise and honor God in the midst of, and truly, through our struggles and hard times. we are never left alone…our God is always with us…leading and guiding..as we seek Him. it is a choice to take our little hearts when we are hurt, or worried, or despairing, and turn them to the One Who deserves all the praise there is to give! and, by His grace, so very often He turns our mourning into dancing…dries our tears… and causes us to rejoice! what an awesome God! <3
Yes, it is a CHOICE and choosing to go to God will never disappoint!!!
This week in one of my other Bible studies, I am learning about contentment. I’m finding that one of the easiest ways to be content in our circumstances is to continuously praise Him! Time in the Word has eased our uncertainties; and has lifted the burden of worry. God’s got this, and I know He always has our BEST interest at heart, even when we don’t understand! Thank you for these awesome tips, Megan! God’s perfect timing for His perfect message, once again!! Thank You Lord!