Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Some of us suffer small, and some of us suffer big, but we all eventually suffer. When we are down in the slumps, it’s easy to get blinders on and only see our pain. It’s easy to forget how Almighty our Father is. It’s easy to be so focused on feeling our pain that we forget to praise our Father.In Acts 16:25-26, we see Paul and Silas praising God even while they are bound by chains in prison. They had cast out a prophesying spirit from a slave girl, causing her owners to lose their source of profit. When the owners realized their hope of gain was gone, they had Paul and Silas imprisoned. Rather than grumbling, crying out in injustice, or fighting, they submitted to their imprisonment. They prayed to God and sang hymns to Him. Then, an earthquake shook the foundations of the jail, causing the doors to open and their chains to fall off. We can already see just how powerful our Creator is and how He favors us when we praise Him, but it gets even better! Because of Paul and Silas’ faith, the jailer realized he needed to be saved. Not only him, but he brought Paul and Silas to his home so his whole family could hear and be saved. Scripture says, “He took them that same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.” (Acts 16:32 CSB).Just like Paul and Silas praised through their suffering, we must also remember to praise Him through our suffering and trials. We must turn our attitudes to know that through our suffering, God is glorified! We must use our trials to bring others to Christ! In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Paul continues, “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”It’s not us getting ourselves through our trials that makes us strong. It is submitting ourselves to God and praising Him in our storm that gives us strength! Our trials are NOT something to feel defeated over. We have a MIGHTY God who is using our weakness to foster our strength in Him. We have a GLORIOUS God who is using our trials to glorify Him. The key is opening our hearts to let Him. We can’t just mope and complain in our suffering—we must shift our mindset to PRAISING the Father through our storm!
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your constant presence, even in the middle of my suffering. I come before You today knowing that life’s hardships can be overwhelming, but I also know that You are faithful. Just like Paul and Silas praised you in their suffering, help me to do the same.Lord, when I feel weak and broken, remind me of Your promise that Your grace is sufficient for me. Help me to find strength in my weakness and trust that your power is made perfect in my struggles. Help me to shift my focus from my pain to Your mighty hand at work in my life.Teach me to praise You in the good times AND when it feels hard. Let my praise be a testimony to your goodness, and let others see Your power through my faith.I give you my hardships and struggles today Lord. I trust that you will use them for Your glory.
n Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
