Prayer – Praising God In Difficult Times
When life crumbles all around you and you are left to pick up the broken pieces, when you have lost a loved one, or your business has crashed down, when you have gone through a divorce or have failed a very important exam, and when everything is just not going your way…
In these difficult times, there’s almost nothing to praise God for, humanly speaking. We tend to focus on our predicament, instead of focusing on God. We may even feel forgotten by God. But what does the Bible say?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
And it furthermore continues to say, in Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Rejoicing even in difficult circumstances
How can I rejoice after failing my final year at varsity? Paul and Silas make a good example for us in the Book of Acts. They were stripped and thrown into jail in the name of Jesus Christ.
But instead of them thinking that Jesus didn’t even appreciate their work, or that God had left them, they decided to pile up praises unto the God of heaven!
This should be our attitude. How many times did we think God has forsaken us just because it was stormy? I’m sure that their beatings were still painful, the same way our current hardship has affected us. But they still praised God.
So our circumstances should not hinder us from praising God. Through our pain, let us rejoice and praise God, for this is the will of our heavenly Father.
Praising God in all situations
Praising God in times of hardship and difficulty is like a sweet-smelling aroma before God. If we can understand that no matter what we go through, God is faithful, then our hardships will lead us to praise Him more. Circumstances do not change God, God changes circumstances.
While Paul and Silas were praising and worshiping God, their chains were loosed, and those of the other prisoners who were with them. As you start praising God, may the chains of your debts and pain be loosed, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let Us Pray
Oh Lord, I will exalt you, my God the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. I will praise You and extol your name continually. In my difficult times, I will praise Your name with a song; I will magnify You with thanksgiving.
My heart will glorify You because Your love is better than life. I will offer praise to You as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands.
How awesome it is, to know that the Lord God, the King of all the earth has time to number my hair! How awesome to know that the great and awesome God knows my name!
So, Oh Lord, I will not be despondent. No matter how thick and gloomy my darkness may be, I know You are my light, and I will praise You.
Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Psalm 71:8 “Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all the day.”
Praise God in my difficult times
I may be in debt, but You are still God, and You are faithful. My marriage may not have worked out, but You are still on the throne. I will praise You in my troubles God, for this is Your will for me.
Teach me, Lord, how to praise You in my pain. Teach me how to not focus on my difficulty when it seems so hard to focus on You.
When my heart begins to murmur and complain against You, please remind me that you make all things beautiful in your time and that all things work together for the good of those who love You.
Lord, I desire to walk according to Your Word. Let this mindset of praise be in me, that nothing will stop me from praising You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
