Praise God in all Circumstances
A few weeks ago, I shared a post about how my husband and I were trying to make some decisions for our family, and we are currently moving forward in faith on a few of those things.
Some of these decisions have been very difficult, and the repercussions have big ripples for us and those around us.
Because of these ripples, I have been feeling grief over some of the losses we are facing because of our decisions. While I trust God and His plan (Jeremiah 29:11) for my life, I can’t help but question God. What has been the point to these experiences? Why were we put in some positions only to be pulled out such a short time later?
With my grieving and questioning, I have been addressing some anger I was holding onto – and while I know that God can take it and I don’t need to hold anything back from Him, I am forgetting one important component for accessing His peace: praise.
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Psalm 34:1-3
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
David starts Psalm 34 with an expectation of praise. We are to praise God continually and at all times. This includes during times of peace, as well as during times of turmoil.
Why praise God in all circumstances?
I don’t know about you, but it seems easier to me to praise and thank God when everything in my life seems to be going well. And by well, I mean exactly how I want it to.
However, I have a harder time praising and thanking God when life feels messy or I’m surrounded by a big storm or in the midst of a battle.
During these times, I find it much easier to cry out to God (Psalm 34:17-18) than to praise Him. And of course it’s alright to cry out to God; David says as much. But if I’m forgetting to praise Him as well, then I am missing a major component for resting in God’s peace and receiving His protection over me.
Seek the Lord through praise.
Psalm 34:4-7
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
God is our refuge, and it is when we praise Him and seek Him that we are able to rest in Him. I am unfortunately a very fearful person, and when I sit in a place of fear for too long instead of focusing on my God and His power and control, I begin to spiral and battle anxiety.
But by praising God in all circumstances, He reminds us that while we will face trouble in this broken world, He is there, in control, working it all out for our good.
Trust His plans.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
God hears us and delivers us out of our troubles, either in this life or the next; and when we focus on praising Him in all circumstances, we are reminded of His sovereignty.
We no longer have to try and figure everything out on our own. We can rest in Him when we trust Him.
Psalm 34:15-20
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
Dear Lord, thank you for being you. Thank you for being in control, and for loving me, and for sending Jesus to save me.
I am so grateful that I am your child, and God I pray that in good times and bad that I will remember to choose to praise you and glorify your name. Truly nothing can stand against you, and I am forever grateful. In Jesus’ name, amen.
God is truly in control of everything – over the good and the bad. So even though I’m grieving the loss of some things because of some difficult decisions, I know that as long as I am following where God leads me, I am on the right path.
So during this time, instead of crying out and asking God why, I am instead going to praise God in all circumstances. I am going to praise Him and thank Him, simply for being who He is.
I can’t imagine living without God, and I am so grateful that He is in control and that His plans for me are good. I can rest in that, and I can remember to praise Him for that.
Blessings Friend.
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