Three Reasons to Praise God When You Don't Feel Like It

If you are like me, there are times you just want to be mad.  When you don't want to be encouraged or corrected, and you certainly don't feel thankful!  In those situations, how do you praise God when you don't feel like it?

Am I the only one that struggles with this?  I'm thinking no.  lol.

Just to clarify, there is a difference between praising God for pain and praising God in pain.  Most people are not naturally happy and thankful about suffering.  Of course, there are situations where we look back and in hindsight can give thanks.  {I wrote more about that in my post, Hindsight is 20/20 which you can read HERE.} 

Here are three reasons to praise God when you don't feel like it.

It's God's Will

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Let's just be honest here, it doesn't come naturally for us to give thanks in ALL circumstances,  ESPECIALLY those that are terrible.

Jesus shows us, by example, not supernaturally, but practically what it looks like to praise God in the face of immense suffering.

"The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy."  ~Ann Voskamp~

Jesus was giving thanks for His body that would be broken, as represented by the bread, because of the glory that would be given to the Father and the joy that would be His when He sits down at the right hand of God.

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

 despising the shame, 

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Instead of focusing on His present circumstances, He was looking at the circumstances from an eternal perspective, where praise naturally flowed out.

In the same way, you can praise God when you don't feel like it, by not focusing on the present difficulty, but praising God IN the difficulty knowing that your suffering is working an eternal weight of glory.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving 

for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:17

God is Still Good When Things Are Bad

God is still deserving of our praise when things are bad.  Even though our perception of the situation is bad, the Lord sees the good that He will bring out of you in that circumstance.  And not only that He will deliver you whether it be this side of Heaven or on to Glory.

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

Job 13:15

In order to hope in God's goodness, we must truly KNOW Him.  It's hard to hope in something if you have no knowledge of it.

The way to truly know God's goodness is to KNOW God through a saving knowledge of Him.  After which, time in the the Bible enhances your relationship with the Lord.  As you read His many promises and see His faithfulness played out over and over again in those accounts, ESPECIALLY when things seemed dire, you will recognize His goodness and believe it for your own lives.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, 

to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50:20

Praise as a Sacrifice to the Lord

 Praise is easily offered up in many circumstances.  Little ones reaching milestones; recognizing someone for a job well done, showing appreciation for service, just to name a few...

Yet the following verse is stating that praise is a sacrifice.  

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, 

that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Hebrews 13:15

When we think of sacrifice, it is something that comes at a great cost.  So how does that relate to praise??

When you don't feel like praising God in your suffering or in your difficult circumstance,  but you do so anyway, it IS a personal sacrifice.   As mentioned earlier, it isn't a natural discipline.

Praising God when you don't feel like it acknowledges God's Sovereignty, His goodness and His trustworthiness.

Through the sacrifice of praise you are declaring "not my will but yours". 

When we practice the spiritual discipline of sacrificial praise not only is God glorified, but your faith grows stronger and you will be blessed.

 To read similar posts please check out the following by clicking on the title:

The Power of Thanksgiving

How to Foster Hope When Circumstances Disappoint

How to Live IN the Blessings of God

The Lord alone deserves

    all of the praise,

    because of his love

    and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1

          The next time you don't feel like praising God, Praise Him Anyway!                    He deserves it!

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