PRAISE CAN BREAK DOWN PRISON WALLS

Something is compelling about choosing to praise God amid our pain, our struggle, and our desperation. The author of the Book of Hebrews calls this a “sacrifice of praise.” It’s thanking God even when it makes no sense to thank Him from an earthly perspective.

This is the key. When we live by faith, we do not see things from an earthly perspective but from an eternal one. Therefore our countenance is not at the whim of the fickle nature of the ups and downs of the natural world. Nor is the quantity or quality of our praise determined by anything other than the worthiness of God, which has not changed or been diminished at all since the dawn of time itself.

When we sing from a place of victory, like Paul and Silas did that fateful night in prison, we agree with all these truths and actively invite God to receive glory through our circumstances. Our choice to praise in the face of difficulty is an act of faith as we choose to believe in God even when we can’t necessarily see a guaranteed result. And we know that even with the smallest seed of faith, God can achieve the impossible.

The crazy thing about all of this is: God doesn’t let us down. Ever.

Even when it looks like He has, He’s just not done yet. His timing is perfect. He sees things on an eternal plane. He’s writing a better story than we will ever know while we’re on this side of Heaven.

The older I get, and the more acquainted I become with the faithfulness of God, the more I wish I could go back to some of my harder days and choose to sing instead of struggle.

None of this minimizes the pain that anyone reading this might face. The reality is Jesus promised that we would have trouble in this world.

But as much as our chains can be burdens, they can also be instruments of praise by the Grace and for the Glory of God. That’s freedom.

Reflect:

Take some time and ask God to speak to you:

• Maybe you’re facing something difficult today. What does it look like to surrender to his sovereignty and choose to praise Him?
• What things do you have to thank Him for?
• How have you seen God be faithful in the past? Can you trust that He will be faithful in the future?

Taylor Gall, Thrive Worship