If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to raise praise when things are going well. When the birds are singing, the sun is shining, I can make a left turn coming out of my tract in my morning commute and my online orders arrive as promised.
But when the bank says there isn’t enough in the account to cover that car repair, or the medical diagnosis has no treatment or cure, or when the relationship cannot be resuscitated … I must admit, it’s not quite so easy to speak, much less praise. Yes, sometimes it’s even hard to pray.
20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:20-21 NLT
Our dear friend, Job, had just been told his entire family had just been wiped out by disaster. His livelihood had just been swept out from beneath him. He went from a full tank to empty in a moment. And yet he chose to humble himself and worship GOD in his sorrow.
This Scripture verse is a sober reminder that even the heroes of the faith were challenged beyond their wildest imaginations. And being just as human as you and I, they suffered but endured to the end. Their endurance was Holy Spirit breathed. And our endurance comes from that same Holy Spirit. We can endure — not of our own human will to persevere, but out of a GOD ordained divinely purposed place that only He can anoint. Role models. Holy examples. However you want to remember these precious people of GOD (of which we are as well, my Friend), they showed that it is possible to raise praise even when life doesn’t look so good or feel so good.
We lift our voices because of Who HE is, not because our circumstances are blowing in the direction we want. The more we practice this, the more it becomes a habit worth having and keeping. We raise our praise when it looks the worst and feels ugly and life is going sideways. And if He chooses to move the mountain at some point along the journey, then hallelujah. But if He decides to hold us close and walk the journey through the mountain instead, we must still shout that same hallelujah.
Because of Who HE is.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
*Thank you to Josue Avila | Calvary Orlando for this.
Titus Two 
When I read the book of Job, I was sobbing. I had often felt I wish I had never been born. I never cursed God, but I never praised. The thought never entered my mind. I see things now through a different pair of eyes, & a new heart. Thanks so much my friend, for sharing the love of God. He is worthy of praise all the time. ❤️🙏Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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There are days when I, too, find myself so overwhelmed to even raise my hand and say a HalleluJah. But through it all, I know that he sees me and knows my heart and intentions. God is so good. Thank you for sharing, sister.
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