#praiseinthestorm

[holdonendure]

Sheltered in the Storm. Psalms 57.

[kellichunn]

How do you respond? Honestly, I'm not always proud of my response. Neither is Jesus, but thankfully He's not finished with me yet. #preachingtomyself #praiseinthestorm #danceintherain #respondinlove #chooseyour24

[kellichunn]

How do you respond? Honestly, I'm not always proud of my response. Neither is Jesus, but thankfully He's not finished with me yet. #preachingtomyself #praiseinthestorm #danceintherain #respondinlove #chooseyour24

[olaisla-blog]

Through the Storm

           After writing my last post about praise this question arose. How does one praise in the storm? When thinking about how to answer this question Psalm 112:6-8 comes to mind: “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;” This verse pretty much says it all! If we are secure in the Lord not even the toughest times can bring us down. Now, to make it clear it doesn’t mean we won’t be sad, frustrated, hurt, or confused. But it means that even through all those feelings we will remain firm because our rock is the Lord.

           Someone once told me that happiness doesn’t depend on your circumstances, but depends on the God whom you serve. So during the toughest time in my life, I found that one of the best ways for me to coup and to praise God was through service. I engaged in my church like I never had before. During a time where everyone wanted to serve me as a way of comforting me, I found the most comfort when serving them. Whether that meant teaching Sunday school, leading worship, going to work, or helping a friend it was all for the glory of God. I wasn’t in a happy place, but God was with me and through service I was able to show others that. But service was only one way I was able to “praise God in the storm.”

           Cry and praise. That has become my motto! When you feel like crying, do it up. But while you cry lift God up, out loud. At times it becomes very easy to complain. We complain about our problems, complain about our pain, and complain just about anything really. So during a tough time condition yourself. Every time you want to complain or question God, shoot up a word of praise; “Lord you’re holy.” When the waterworks start to come “God you’re mighty.” When you feel overwhelmed “You are the beginning and the end, I will rest in you.” You see, it’s okay to feel. Feel it all! But it’s what you do with your feelings that matters.

           Last but not least, a positive note. For every bad thing that is happening in your life, think of one good thing God has blessed you with. For example; I lost my dad, but my heavenly father will never abandon or forsake me! The world is full of bad things. We are all bound to suffer, and many times it’s easy for us to be clouded by our suffering. But I’ve learned that God’s hand is in everything! And where there is suffering there is also blessing. You just have to be open to finding it. Sometimes it will seem so small in comparison to your pain, but none the less thank God for it. The more you do this the more you will see Gods hand in your life. The darkness won’t be so dark anymore. “Where one door shuts, two more open.”