Power of Praise

If faithfulness is measured by how one responds to adversity, my friend Mary is the epitome of that term.

As matriarch of a family that’s seen more than its fair share of adversity over the years, and especially in the past six months, her husband’s recent death might have been the blow that finally knocked her off her firm foundation of faith in God. But four days after the love of her life died, she was in church lifting her hands in worship to her God, singing praises to her Savior through her tears. And as I observed this friend whom I love so dearly, I realized that she knows what so few of us understand: there is power in praise.

Psalm 22:3 says, “God inhabits the praises of his people,” and the more we need to experience His presence, the more we need to praise Him. Praise in the midst of trials isn’t going to come naturally for most of us. How do you praise God when you can’t stop worrying about your circumstances? How do praise Him when you’re drowning in sorrow? Who could possibly think about praise when you’re filled with fear?

You can go to the Psalms and make David’s prayers of praise your own. Listen to worship music and sing along until the words penetrate your soul. Talk out loud to your heavenly Father, affirming your love and trust in Him. Remember that as God’s child, you have every reason to be filled with hope.

No matter what your circumstances, choose to give praise to God. This visible display of faithfulness will transform you, lifting your spirit above the circumstances into the heavenly realms where all-powerful, all-loving God will ease your anxiety, your pain, and your fear; and you’ll be able to say like my friend Mary, “I’m at peace.”