Why God asks us to praise Him in the midst of the storm. It's so good!

Okay, so this interests me...

There are so many Bible verses that I've only really heard in extract form- pulled from their context and shared on their own or turned into song lyrics. These, for example, which I read yesterday morning: "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!" Did your brain sing those as you read them? Mine did. :)

I have sung those words so many times in church. But do you know the context? I didn't. They're lovely words of praise, but in their proper setting, they take on a whole new depth.

The verse before, Psalm 57:4, says "My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords." Sounds like a time of intense hardship! The author is suffering; under focused, personal attack. And then, verse 5- "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!" And again, in verse 6, "They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down." Wow. This expression of praise was not the inspiration of a light heart on an easy morning, with sun shining and sweet fragrance drifting in on a gentle breeze. Those words were poured out from a heart in deep distress, in the midst of heavy persecution and suffering. And yet- "Be exalted, O God."

This reminds me of the words "sacrifice of praise." (Hebrews 13:15) Again, words I've sung often in church, buy never considered, until the past year, the weight and depth of them. When is praise a sacrifice? When it is the last thing you feel like doing! Praise and thanksgiving are sacrifices, holy offerings given beyond human capacity, when they come from a place of pain and lack and weary suffering. I can speak from personal experience now, in a way I never could before, of the deep sacrifice and determination it takes to praise God in the deepest pain, with the heaviest heart.

Praise is a choice. It is an act of sheer will and determination to praise and thank God when every part of you lies shattered and bleeding on the cold, gritty floor. And that is a precious, beautiful thing in the eyes of our God. <3 <3 He asks us to praise Him in the hardest times, not because it makes Him feel important, but because it is the best thing for us!

What God asks of us is always, always the thing that is the deepest, highest best for us, for our souls, for our hearts.

"When you walk through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown." Isaiah 43:2

In every single moment, God's perfect, inexhaustible love is poured out to us. In the midst of intense suffering, He is with us in deep, sustaining ways. He never abandons us to suffer alone. And He asks us to praise Him, and to thank Him, in the hardest moments, because it does incredible, good things in our hearts and minds and souls. It is good for us to choose praise in the midst of our suffering. It is the best possible thing to lift our eyes to Jesus, even as we lie bleeding, and fix our minds on His goodness and His love. And what happens when we do that?

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." And what happens? "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." YES!!

[necessary disclaimer- all the added emphasis of italics and bold print is mine- because it is just so intensely good!] Moving on...

When we look to God, with trust and love, in the midst of our pain, it opens the door for His priceless peace to flood in. I love that phrase, that His peace will "guard our hearts and minds." When our minds lie shattered and our hearts are ripped to pieces, His peace guards them- picks them up, pieces them gently back together, puts them in a safe and sacred place, and His holy fire then stands guard all around them while they rest and survive and heal.

<3 <3 <3 Can I get a Hallelujah?!! :D :D