It was a hard week by anyone’s standards. Twenty-eight hours and over two-hundred miles separated two funerals I attended. Yes, was definitely a hard week. Is something wrong? Think about what’s right with you?
Myasthenia gravis and stress do not play nice together either. Physically, I am markedly stronger, but if I thought getting on prednisone was hard; getting off is harder.
Lamentations 3:19-21, “I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all-oh, how well I remember-the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope.” MSG
WHAT’S WRONG?
I could tell you what else is wrong with my life, but I won’t. It would be depressing and quite frankly dangerous. I was tempted to go there once, but I was afraid I might never come back. Instead, I will tell you what is right. Because more is right than wrong and I want to focus on that. It’s a choice.
So what’s wrong with your life? Wait, don’t answer that.
WHAT’S RIGHT?
Do you have your health? Praise God. If not praise God for the health you used to enjoy. Does anyone love you? Praise God. If not, praise Him anyway. Do you have friends, pets or connections at church or even on social media? Praise God. Is the sky blue and the grass green and the leaves tinged with color hinting at fall? Praise God. Do you live in a country where you are safe and free? Praise God. Do you know where you will sleep tonight? Praise God. If not, praise God for balmy temperatures. Have you eaten today? Praise God. Do you have clean water to drink and a hot shower available? Praise God. Many do not.
Don't act like a pauper if you live in abundance. Click To Tweet
FAREWELL
Unlike the people with whom I share genetic material, this family had some musical talent. She sang these lyrics at her father’s funeral.
“When you’re up against a wall and your mountain seems so tall and you realize that life’s not always fair. You can run away and hide, let the old man decide, or you can change your circumstances with a prayer. When everything falls apart, praise His name. When you have a broken heart, raise your hands and say; Lord, You’re all I need, You’re everything to me. And He’ll take the pain away. When it seems you’re all alone, praise His name. When you feel you can’t go on, just raise your hands and say, ‘Greater is He that is within me and you can praise the pain away, if you’ll just praise His name.”
PRAISE THERAPY
Her eyes brimmed and her voice quivered ever so slightly for one brief moment. Although she sang with barely contained emotion, the sentiments of the melody were not forced. She believed it. I do too. Praise therapy is a technique I recommend in Prescriptions for Anxiety.
SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
It’s counterintuitive to utter heartfelt praise in the face of unspeakable loss, yet for some followers of Jesus Christ it comes naturally. I suppose to a degree it depends on how closely you are following. No matter what your circumstances, praise God. Do it if you feel like it, and especially if you don’t.
Hebrews 13:15, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” NIV
HOPE
Even if your present situation is dismal, your circumstances are dire and your future is bleak, you can have hope. Eternal hope. But you will have to keep a grip on it. A firm, desperate grip.
Romans 5:3, “And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” HCSB
Rejoicing in our afflictions is how we start. It is not easy. No, it can be excruciatingly difficult, but, it produces hope. And couldn’t we all use a little hope? Hang in there.
Colossians 1:5, “Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.” NKJV
Praise God for a beautiful daughter who reminded me of how blessed we are regardless of our circumstances
You have always been a great example of looking at the bright side
Thank you so much for your writing. We are all
so blessed by it. Sometimes those days come when all we can muster up is praise that gets us through the day and allows us to take that next breath. I appreciate you being real with your feelings and adversity. It strengthens me to see how God carries us all through this life and I’m sure you are like me and can’t wait to get to the next one. Blessings !!!
Keep mustering! thanks
So thankful for you, your testimony and God’s faithfulness! Love and blessings!
Thank you for your encouragement. Love and blessings to you as well
I love that line, “praise therapy.” Thanks for the great reminder to grateful for all that I do have 🙂
When I can do nothing else, that works for me
I appreciate your reminder to thank God for our blessing, especially in the face of hardship. As far as praising Him, I love the scripture that God inhabits our praises. Thanks for a great post.
That is an awesome scripture. Very appropriate, thanks
Thank you for the reminder to praise God for everything. It is amazing that when we are down if we just look to Him ans spend time thanking and praising God how he changes our attitudes towards the good.
It is hard when we are down, but that is when it is most important. Thanks for sharing your thoughts