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Praising in the Storm is not the easiest thing to do. It’s like trying to be joyful in the trails but that is exactly what we should do.
In this life we walk through tough seasons all the time and what we need to do is learn to see God in it all and give him praise.
Psalm 8:1-4 says, “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”
This psalm of praise was written under incredible duress and turmoil. Yet David continued to exalt the Creator of the Universe regardless of his circumstances. As you reflect on these powerful words, think of ways you can better glorify His Name in all you do and in any situation.
God is good in all things, and we need to turn to Him and know that even in the highs and lows of life, He is with us.
In September 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, leaving a lot of destruction behind. Then, in January 2018, my dad passed away suddenly.
This was a season in life filled with uncertainty and struggle. We were still in the midst of cleaning up and repairing things when a funeral needed to happen. Where is the joy in that? I felt like I was in a fog most of the time. But these two events actually strengthened my relationship with the Lord. I was seeking answers during all this, so I turned to God because I didn’t know what else would give me what I thought the Lord could give.
I was right. I learned to praise the Lord even more during that season of storms, and looking back on it, I see the joy in it all, not the pain. Now, I seek the Lord and find joy in all things as best I can.
Psalm 34:1-4 says it amazingly well: “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.”
Storms come in all shapes and sizes. They can be a gradual build-up, or they can seemingly come from nowhere. Sometimes the storms can be scary and long. Sometimes they are light and short and finish soon after they start. Some storms in life can have strong winds, sometimes rain, sometimes thunder and lightning, and sometimes all of these at once.
Similarly, the storms of life can come when we feel or see them coming, and then they are upon us. But sometimes, they catch us by surprise. We’re caught unaware by the intensity of them; sometimes we weather them well, and sometimes we don’t. The storms of life can hit our health, our relationships, our finances, our emotions, our spiritual life. When a life storm hits, it can leave us feeling battered, bruised, scared, confused, uncertain, and overwhelmed.
But there’s always one thing we can do in a storm—worship. Worship brings us back to God. It refocuses us on God and not on what is going on in our lives.
Psalm 68:3-4 says, “But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence!”