Praise In the Midst of Trials

Time Out For God

Praise in the Midst of Trial
By Danna Appleby

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns

to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 NIV

Bleeding and maimed from the current day’s beating, Paul and Silas sat in the dark inner cell of a prison. Despite their pain and anguish, they began to sing out hymns of praise to their God while the other prisoners listened. About midnight, a great earthquake shook the whole foundation, opening the prison doors and loosening their chains. (See Acts 16:16-40)

Paul and Silas could have said, “Woe is me,” but instead decided to praise God
anyhow right in the midst of their trial. Despite their pulsating wounds, they praised the One who was worthy to be praised. What a great demonstration of what praise will do when situations are such that we may not feel like sending up praise. What happened when those men began to praise their God? The chains fell off and they were set free.

Many times, we can be in a prison without bars or walls. It can be a prison of the mind without even realizing it. It can be a prison of bondage with doors shut so tightly we may think they’ll never be unlocked.

As I went through some very dark days of trial of my own, I found that as I praised God through pain and turmoil, that He began to bring me out. That is what it means to offer up a sacrifice of praise – to praise God even when we don’t feel like it. As I praised God and gave thanks in the midst of my trial and pain, He was glorified and honored and I was healed over a period of time! We must praise God at all times, not only during the good times. The Psalmist David wrote:

I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psa. 34:1 NKJV (Emphasis mine.)

We can feel so broken inside that we may use up a whole box of tissues on our tears, but those tears are very precious to God and are stored in a bottle and recorded in a book in heaven. (Ps. 56:8) If that be the case, then I feel sure that our praise is captured and recorded in heaven as well. I believe when we praise God He comes down in a mighty way to bless and help us during those times of praise.

Recently I was going through a struggle and I cried out to God using the following Scriptures as a prayer:

Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. (Ps. 71:12) But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. (Ps. 71:14 NIV)

Jesus was sent to help us and we can rejoice in the midst of the trial that we have the very One who knew trial, pain and persecution in the first degree! He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted and to comfort all who mourn (Isa. 61:1-3) and He will comfort us and dry our tears.

Several weeks ago, I had a very vivid dream. I remember that I could see my bed and somehow sensed that I was in it asleep because it was during the night. I could see faintly the form of a man dressed in a white robe and even though I could not see His face, I knew it had to be Jesus. I could see Him bending over me as if to perhaps touch my face or smooth my pillow. I wonder how many times that our Lord comes to us to watch over us during the dark hours of the night and we aren’t even aware that He is there to comfort us as we sleep? How many times has He wiped away a tear or touched a fevered brow during the night? If we could see with our natural eyes, we would see what compassion God has for us when we’re troubled and hurting.

Be comforted in the fact that God is with you and knows your every struggle. He knows when are hearts are broken. He knows when a loved one has left us. He knows how devastating it is when a child leaves home, no matter what the reason. God knows and understands everything we must endure and cares! Praise God and rest assured that He will give you peace even in the midst of your trial.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7 NKJV

Prayer:

Father, I come before You and praise You for helping us in the midst of our trials. Through it all You are with us. You have never forsaken us one time. We’ve been unfaithful many times, but you have never paid us back for our wrongs and have stuck with us closer than any brother ever could. You are our God and the One we praise this day. Lord we honor you with our mouths and sing praises to You just as Paul and Silas did. Just as they did when they were tormented, beaten and thrown in prison. We may not be in a literal prison God, but the prison may be in our minds and we come needy before You. We come thirsty for the Living God. Oh how I love You Lord. Oh how I honor You Lord. I say it again, I love you Lord. You’ve never left me Lord and now I lift up my brothers and sisters and ask that You touch their lives like they’ve never been touched before. Reach Your mighty hand down from Your lovely Throne Room and help those who are going through desperate times, who have no one to turn to, maybe even deserted or forsaken. You never desert us though Lord. You stand by us through thick and thin. Be honored Lord today! We lift up a HIGH PRAISE to You thanking You in advance for helping us. In Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen!!! Thank you Lord! Thank You Lord for answering our prayers!

For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. Psa. 72:12 NIV