God is to be praised, even during difficult times.
Christians are commanded to praise God. Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” We usually don’t have a problem praising God when we are doing well. However, giving praise to God can become more challenging when things are not going so well.
Trouble in our lives can keep us from praising God. We might even think to ourselves, “Why should I praise God?” However, the presence of difficult times does not negate the command to praise God. Praising God is an unconditional command, which means we should do it regardless of what is happening to us or around us. Is it easy to praise God in the midst of problems? No, it isn’t. But God would not tell us to do something that we could not do, with His help. In this post, I discuss three keys that will help us praise God during difficult times.
Key #1 – Make the Decision to Praise God
Praise the Lord at all times, regardless of your situation and circumstances.
The first key to praising God during difficult times is to make the decision to praise Him. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” The word “extol” means to “praise enthusiastically.” The Psalmist said he was going to praise the Lord with enthusiasm! He was going to be excited about praising God! Note that he didn’t say “I might praise the Lord” or “I will think about praising the Lord.” In saying “I will,” the Psalmist made a conscious decision that he was going to praise God.
But he went even further to say he would praise God “at all times” and “always.” The words “all” and “always” mean there are no exceptions. In other words, in good times and bad times, praise God. In sickness and in health, praise God. With or without money, praise God. Employed or unemployed, praise God. Despite the situation in which we find ourselves, we should still praise God.
Job gives us a Biblical example of what it means to praise God at all times. Job 1:21 says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Even after Job had lost his children, livestock, and most of his servants, he was still able to praise the Lord. We should have the same attitude as Job, and make a commitment to praise God regardless of what happens to us.
Our praise of God should be “premeditated.” The word “premeditated” means “to think out or plan an action beforehand.” Having “premeditated praise” for God means we plan to praise Him even before trouble and difficulty come. Then when we hit those bumps in the road of life, we can praise God because we decided beforehand that is what we were going to do. Make the decision right now to praise God no matter what happens, now or in the future.
Key #2 – Praise God For Who He Is
Praise God for who He is!
The second key to praising God during difficult times is to remember who He is. He is a great God! Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” God is greater than our finite minds can even comprehend. He is great for many reasons, including His mighty power, His unconditional love, His everlasting mercy, and His amazing grace.
He is worthy to be praised because He is the Most High King over all the earth. Psalm 47:2 says, “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.” If we give earthy presidents and kings respect and honor, how much more should we give reverence and praise to God, the great King over all the earth?
He is also worthy to be praised because He is without equal in all the universe. Isaiah 40:25 says, “‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.” Nothing and no one is like God. These are just a few reasons why we should praise our great God, but there are many more. Which of God’s awesome attributes make you want to praise Him?
Key #3 – Praise God For What He Has Done
Praise God for what He has done for us.
The third key to praising God during difficult times is to remind ourselves what He has done. Psalm 52:9 says, “For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”
Some people may want to praise God for what He has done physically, like giving them health, a good job, a nice home, and money to spend. Praising God for these blessings is fine, but if we limit our praise to what He does for us physically, there is a danger that we may not praise Him if we don’t have these things.
In addition to physical blessings, God has given us many spiritual blessings. He has given us peace, comfort, His Word, His presence, and His Holy Spirit. But the most important spiritual blessing God has given us for which we can always praise Him is salvation through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
No matter how much trouble we face, God has sent Jesus to take care of our biggest problem which is the problem of sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Since God has taken care of our sin problem, we can praise Him even though we may experience troubles in this life. Let us praise God for what He has done in giving us everlasting life through Jesus Christ!
Conclusion
Unlock your tongue and praise God!
To recap, the following steps will help us praise God even during difficult times:
- Make a conscious and premeditated decision to praise God at all times.
- Remember who God is. He is a great God who is worthy to be praised.
- Remind yourself what God has done for you. God’s ultimate gift to us is salvation through Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, our circumstances can make it hard to praise God. However, I encourage you to use these three keys to unlock your mind and tongue so you can offer enthusiastic and continuous praise to God! After all, He is worthy of all the praise we can give Him and more!
Awesome words of encouragement!
Thank you, Daffney!
Awesome, awesome and awesome!!! Most definitely…when reflecting on who God is, what He has done and what He’s going to do, makes Him worthy of praise. I love it!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
God is definitely worthy of our praise! Thanks for the feedback, Keith!
Correction: Awesome words of encouragement!
Thanks Joey for this great truth and reminder that no matter how we feel as Christians and not matter what we are going through or what we might lack in life we are still commanded to Praise our Savior! You know as we praise Him in all things, we open up our hearts that He might deal with us as His children and speak to our hearts and even pour out what we need upon us! It helps taking the focus off ourselves and our issues in life and realizing what He has done and is continuing to do for us. It is easy to be too busy to do the things we need to do …Praising Him…from whom all blessings flow!
Thanks for your encouraging words, Jimmy!
AWESOME ! Thank you for reminding us praise God for who He is and not for what He does, the material blessings!! God is so much bigger than that!! God bless you brother Perry!!
Thank you, Katie!
A few sentences into this study I could feel my disposition transitioning. Moving away from the cares of the day to the praise of who brought me through the day. I moved through a space of uplifted, then guided and warned. The final destination was to a place of excitement. When I concluded my reading I searched my memory to attempt to compare other readings that had the same type of effect on me. I concluded that I have experienced this same feeling when reading the pages of the owners manual of a brand new vehicle. I Breslau can’t get moving until I understand what I have. There is a pleasant smell to praise and a new car that is unique and unmistakable. Although my capacity to praise God expands and diminishes like a uncontrollable reflex because of my spiritual maturity level, it never completely dissipates. God inhabits my praise and He joins in the hymns of my ups and downs especially when He sees that I am struggling. The excited feeling I get when reading a manuel for a new car comes about because I feel grateful for what I have gone through to get to the place where something I have longed for is mine. The manuel shows of the unique benefits of what is in store for me because I have made my choice . This study reminds me that praising God is a result of the purchase. I was purchased. Therefore, God to do with me what He will and I continue to trust Him completely.
Amen, Antoinette! We can praise and thank God for purchasing us with the blood of Jesus!
Awesome and very encouraging.
Thanks
Thanks for your feedback, Duane!
This is very timely and encouraging with everything that’s going on in the world today.
Praise God no matter the situation!
Thanks
Amen, Lestelle! God is always worthy to be praised!
We both loved it-so understandable and practical and easy to implement joyfully into our daily walk.
Thanks for the feedback, Michael and Rachelle!
Is there a way that I may download and use your audio version of the Three Keys as part of my Bible Study presentation in the month of June? it is very timely. Thanks
Hi Charlie. Sure, you can use the audio version of this article. I will email the file to you. I just ask two things: (1) Make sure you mention my website so the people in your Bible Study know where the lesson came from and (2) allow me to add you to my email list.