Praising God in the middle of your suffering can be difficult, but it brings God even more glory when praise is a sacrifice.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. Did you know that praise comes in different forms? Sometimes praise almost bubbles up in sparkles like 7-Up – like praise for answered prayer or for salvation. Other days, praise to God might be a sacrifice, like in a financial emergency or a cancerous lump, or thanking him through chronic pain or a son’s angry rebellion. Praising God during times like that, well, it’s hard, but Psalm 50 says God is “honored” when we offer sacrifices of praise. Oh, God is delighted when our praise effervesces and bubbles up out of sheer joy – you know, when it’s easy – but I think he’s more delighted and perhaps more glorified when we offer words of adoration wrenched from a heart that is pained and bruised. So, let down your ego, your pride, anger, and your logic; and lift up your head, heart, and soul above your problems. It’s a sacrifice of praise that’ll bring honor to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
© Joni and Friends