Praise and Suffering
In the midst of your valley can you praise?
part 4 of 4 in a series of grief
“let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe” (Hebrews 12:28 NLT).
Throughout the Bible we find people going through struggles and hardships. Some seek God and some go their own way.
Seeking God is the best way.
Each of us are unique and as such we will go through these times in our own unique ways, what works for you may not work for me. But there are some basics that do not change.
God has not abandoned us as we travel through our hardships. I spoke before about the promises of God to hang onto while processing my grief but truly they apply to most situations of hardship.
We can see his benefits even in the midst of suffering and hardships
- strained relationships?
- marriage issues?
- problems with your children/
- loss of a loved one?
- loss of a job?
- Health issues for you or a loved one?
- financial problems?
So the question is why praise? and why praise during suffering?
Praise is due to our God. He is worthy of praise
- He is the creator of the sun, moon and stars
- He is our creator
- He is love
- He is faithful
- He is truth
- He is grace
- He is our Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending
- He is Adonai Lord
- He is Elohim
- He is the renewer of life
- El Shaddai God almighty
- He is peace Jehovah Shalom
- El Elyon God Most High
- The Everlasting God El Olam
- King of Kings
Praise is something we can give back to God. It is a way to please God.
Why in the midst of suffering and hard times should we praise God?
It shows FAITH and TRUST
We are showing our faith that we know that we cannot see the next step but because we know our God is good, that He loves us and that He is for us we know that His plan is the best. We show our trust when we realize in our weakness we have His strength. 2 Cor 12:10
It shows LOVE
There is a declaration I have seen and say myself
I believe God can, I believe God will but even if He doesn't I still believe.
Do you love God for who He is or for what He can do for you? If your situation did not change could would you still praise honor and serve God?
Love is doing the thing because it is right not because it will benefit you. We praise God because it is right.
I think of Paul who wrote a great deal of the New Testament.
He was
- beaten
- left for dead
- shipwrecked
- imprisoned and eventually
- beheaded
Yet even in prison he was able to praise and he was instructing others to see the benefits of the hard times that we are sure to have.
What might come of the these hard times?
Ability to be more concerned and empathatic
Some people are able to empathize regardless of situations but sometime it is only when we have been in a situation we get the full ability to empathize.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We become stronger Christians
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
We do not grow in comfort. We grow in tough times and hard places. We as Christians are to grow. Once we became a Christian instantly everything was not easy and we were walking like our Lord Jesus Christ. NO we struggle and we train to become more like Christ. To prepare you for more that is our purpose you need to train you need to get stronger.
Trust me all this does not take away the grief the loss but when we keep our focus on God it lessens it some at least for me
Missed the other parts of the grief series?