Turning despair to praise. Recently, I was praying with a group of friends over many heavy-hearted things going on in our community, state, and country. I bet you’re doing this a lot too. At one point, one friend stopped and shared that she felt as though the energy in her body was being drained. She asked if we were experiencing the same thing, and the other person praying with us said, ‘Yes.’
You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
Although I wasn’t encountering this, God gave me a sense of what was going on and shared that we should praise the Lord. As soon as we began to praise the Lord for His goodness, they both began to feel better.
Interestingly enough, the Holy Spirit began pressing this very idea into my mind and heart while I was praying with members of this same group the week before. As we prayed, God reminded me of the Old Testament and how the people viewed God during that time.
They were oppressed, used to the Prophets bringing bad news, and only recognized God’s justice and wrath rather than His mercy and grace. Knowing that God hadn’t spoken through the Prophets for four hundred years, the people longed for refreshment and a Savior by the time Jesus came to this world. Even when the Holy Spirit was given to the people after Jesus’s death, they still walked in despair, just like we are now with the daily diet of bad news from the media.
As I prayed about this throughout the week, the Holy Spirit revealed that praise is a cure for despair. My hope and prayer is that it’s a key to revival, too. Many stories throughout the Scriptures describe people who fixed their eyes on God and His goodness, making their circumstances manageable. Because their focus was on the Lord, they found hope even when their situations felt hopeless.
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
Friend, I don’t know what heavy-hearted burdens you carry for yourself or others today. But let me encourage you: Praising Jesus is good for your Soul. When we lean into God’s very nature, He lifts us up. The very act of worshipping Him connects us to His Spirit living within us. We can stand in His presence because Jesus paved the way. Using scripture, the Names of God, His Attributes, and Character in prayer softens the level of our pain and suffering because our focus is on Him. This will help in turning your despair into praise!
Connection
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Additional Encouragement
Joyful are people of integrity who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. Psalm 119:1-2 (NLT)
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:11-12 – Read the Full Chapter
For Additional Praise Resources
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