Throughout my life as Christian, I have heard many common phrases that Christians take for granted, or don’t fully understand.
The biggest phrase that has been heavy on my heart lately is “I will praise you in this storm.” I’ve always heard this phrase, and it made sense when I first heard it.
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I thought to myself, “Yeah, God is, like, GOD. Of course I will lean on Him when I face troubles.” But, as most things are, that is easier said than done. Also, many people don’t realize that praising God in our “storms” is so much more than just leaning on Him through hard times.
Let me further explain.
There are three major things that we must consider when we are facing “storms.” Those three things are goodness, glory and grace.
Goodness
Goodness usually implies positive things, right? Well, within our negative storms, there is always a positivity.
James 1:2
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.
In other words, we should recognize that even though what we are facing is hard, we are usually facing it for a good reason. I know that sounds hard to believe, but when you praise God during your struggles, you feel the peace and joy from Him that will help you face anything.
For example, just because you are facing troubles in your life doesn’t mean that God is punishing you, or that you are a terrible person. Sometimes when we face adversity, it is because we are doing something right, and a certain someone doesn’t like that.
Sometimes we face trials because God wants to strengthen our faith in Him, or our love for Him. God is so, so good, and no matter what the reason behind your trials, you should know that God seriously loves you. He has your back, and He won’t let you face anything you can’t handle, just like He tells us in Isaiah 43:2:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Glory
We should always recognize God, and recognize that He really is there for us (even when we don’t feel like He is).
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We get our strength, our power, from God. Even when we are weak and distraught, He can give us the power to move on. We must first, though, recognize that Jesus is our savior, and God is our Father. We must give Him the glory. Once we have proclaimed that God is our God, and Jesus died for us, we will be more that blessed through Him, no matter what our circumstance is.
Grace
This is the part where praising God in our storms is more than just believing and leaning on Him.
God pours his grace on us daily, but this subtitle isn’t necessarily about his grace. This is about the grace that we show toward each other.
How many of us have faced a difficult time, and while facing it, have felt alone, judged or left out? I know I have, as I am sure you have, too.
God is there for us, and since we are called to imitate Him, we should be there for others as well.
Our storms are tough, yes, but so are others'. Just because one person’s storm may look less severe (or they look like they don’t struggle at all), it does not mean they aren’t facing or haven’t faced a storm just as severe as the next person’s.
An interesting thought I found on the internet really helps me describe this:
When you put a potato in a pot of boiling water, it makes it soft. When you put an egg in boiling water, it hardens it.
This is how our storms are. Different people are affected by different circumstances in different ways. What may look like a simple problem to you could be the biggest problem in the world for someone else.
What I am getting at here is, know that others struggle. You can help them, and they can help you. Show grace and mercy (and always be kind), just as Jesus was and is.
Galations 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Romans 12:13
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
My pastor in Church this Sunday said, "The greatest time to exercise your faith is when you face severe adversity," and then finished his sermon with the question, "Your faith will be challenged. What will you do with it?"
I thought, "You know, I think I will praise God in that storm."
