This weekend at church the message was about injustice and suffering and how we can find hope in the midst of them. Something the pastor said stuck with me.
He said, “Regardless of……, we offer up our praise.”
It’s extremely difficult to praise God when we are suffering or when injustice strikes. Yet there is nothing more sacrificial and beautiful to God than when we praise Him regardless.
The Psalms give us a great example of this.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 (This verse is repeated, not once, but 2 more times. Psalm 42:11 and Psalm 43:5. Anytime God repeats something, it’s worth taking note.)
And as for me, I’m not there yet. I struggle thanking God for the hard stuff. I’ve thanked Him during trials before, but my natural tendency is to grumble first. My heart’s desire is learn to sincerely praise Him——regardless.
