A Life of Praise: Finding Joy During Times of Suffering

A Life of Praise

Finding Joy During Times of Suffering

 

August 27, 2022

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philip 4:4-8)

While Paul’s counsel to “Rejoice in the Lord always” was directed towards two women who were in conflict with each other, difficulties come in many shapes and sizes. His words were not empty. In Philippians 1:29,30 he wrote,

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.  

We sometimes confuse the word “rejoice” with “happiness.” At times, the trials and pressures of life make it almost impossible to be happy. But Paul did not tell his readers to be happy. He encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord. He said it twice in verse 4 (cf. 3:1; 1 Thes. 5:16). It is the companionship of Jesus during such times that is the object of our rejoicing. We are not left alone during these times.  

The Christian who manifests patience and cheerfulness under bereavement and, who meets even death itself with the peace and calmness of an unwavering faith, may accomplish for the gospel more than he could have effected by a long life of faithful labor. Often when the servant of God is withdrawn from active duty, the mysterious providence which our shortsighted vision would lament is designed by God to accomplish a work that otherwise would never have been done. AA 465.1

Surely there are many circumstances in which Christians cannot be happy. But they can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him. Paul himself was an excellent example of one who had inner joy when external circumstances—such as persecution, imprisonment, and the threat of death—were against him.  It is from this same context of internal rejoicing that praises naturally flow.  Biblically, the motive of praise comes from some action of God that is believed to be on our behalf. Praise for a specific situation may not be immediate. It can come after or even in anticipation of God’s providential intervention. 

 

Building the Framework for Praise

 

Acts chapter 9 begins with Saul (later Paul) who was “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” However, something happened that changed not only Saul’s life but the course of the early church. Saul encountered a flash of “light from heaven” causing him to fall to the ground.  He then heard the shocking words, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” It was then that Saul began to learn that his horrible treatment of the disciples was the same as doing it to Jesus.  Instead of Saul being rejected, God looked for a believer to minister to him!  Ananias was told to “Go . . . ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul for he is praying” (v.11). This was all the proof Ananias needed.  It was as if God was saying, “It’s okay, Ananiah . . . calm down . . . you don’t have to be afraid now, it’s safe: He is praying.”  The secret of power in the early church was prayer. That secret hasn’t changed and from it, God not only responded; the church became the center of praise. Over and over again throughout Scripture, the foundation of praise flowed from knowing (1) God’s presence is with His people, and (2) God remains in control despite appearances to the contrary. The awareness of those two principles leads to the praise of God or as Paul said to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always”!

God’s Purposes Exceed Our Understanding

 

Most of us are familiar with the story of Joshua leading the march around Jericho. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpIXAOKjTbI) However, our limited understanding is seen in Joshua 5:13-15,

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

We sometimes think or pray as if God is for our football team, our political party, or some other side for which we need God’s special help. We are reminded from this passage that we must seek first the presence of God and believe that God will bring the ultimate victory “in His time.”  Once again, we “rejoice in the Lord” and not in our desired outcome. Praise is always built on seeing that God’s purposes are greater than our understanding at the moment.  God’s character is the basis of our praise and changes in our approach to life’s difficulties.

 

The Life of Praise

The Greatness of God Should Be No Secret to Us

 

One of the great chapters in the Bible on praise is Psalm 145. Read carefully and pause after each section asking what are some reasons to praise God. Verses: 1-7; 8-13a; 13b-16; 17-21.

 

As noted in the Sabbath School quarterly, the noted preacher Charles Spurgeon observed three things that can help us develop an attitude of prayer in our lives:

 

1.     Praise is practiced as we look around.

2.    Praise is practiced as we remember what we have seen.

3.    Praise is practiced as we talk about it.

 

The Impact of Praise on Others

 

The work of God can only be carried on by the power of God. We can raise money, refine our organization, be creative in our methods of outreach, and earn the highest academic degrees but none of these, as good as they might be, can be a substitute for the power of God.  The best witness is not who we are but who God is and that is the focus of the true witness.  As Jim Cymbala has said, 

No matter the society or culture, the city or town, God has never lacked the power to work through available people to glorify his name. (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, p.97)

An example of this kind of witness is found in Acts 16:16-34. While on their way to a place of prayer, Paul and Silas ran into a situation in which the conversion of an individual cost the locals their financial income. Ultimately this led to Paul and Silas being stripped and severely beaten with rods. They were cast into a prison with their feet placed in stocks. Despite the anguish caused by the stocks, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing hymns to God (v.25).  

 

As Paul and Silas sang, the Bible records that “the other prisoners were listening to them.” It was then, during this time of praise, that a violent earthquake shook the prison.  The jailer was stopped from committing suicide by Paul encouraging him to “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (v. 31). What happened next is amazing!

The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (v.34)  

If Paul and Silas had concluded during their flogging and imprisonment that God had abandoned them and that He was no longer in control the outcome would have likely been radically different.  

The keeper of the jail had heard with amazement the prayers and songs of the imprisoned apostles. When they were led in, he had seen their swollen and bleeding wounds, and had himself caused their feet to be fastened in the stocks. He had expected to hear from them bitter groans and imprecations, but he heard instead songs of joy and praise. With these sounds in his ears the jailer had fallen into a sleep from which he was awakened by the earthquake and the shaking of the prison walls.—Acts of the Apostles, 215. 

In an earlier experience, when Peter was imprisoned, things looked hopeless. (Acts 12)  In the book Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded, learned that Peter was confined in a rock-hewn cell, the doors of which were strongly bolted and barred; and the soldiers on guard were made answerable for the safekeeping of the prisoner. But the bolts and bars and the Roman guard, which effectually cut off all possibility of human aid, were but to make more complete the triumph of God in the deliverance of Peter. . . With the prison doors securely fastened, and a strong guard before them, all chance of rescue or escape through human means was cut off. But man's extremity is God's opportunity.” (AA 146) 

 

We must remember to “Never write a conclusion when God is still adding chapters.”

 

Jehoshaphat’s Choir

(2 Chron. 20:1-30)

 

I doubt many armies would ever bank on a choir to defeat an enemy, but then again, God’s ways are not ours!  The Moabites asked the Ammonites to join them in their fight for independence. Together they formed a “vast army.” Jehoshaphat’s army was dwarfed and he was alarmed.  He responded by calling for a fast and gathered the people together to ask for the Lord’s intervention (2 Chron. 20: 3-4).  Faith in the Lord and trust in His prophets will always mean victory for the people of God.  How and when may not be evident at the time. A grudge between the Moabites and the Ammonites exploded and instead of fighting Jehoshaphat, they fought each other. It would be wrong to suggest that his army, and his people, were not involved.  How they were involved, however, made all the difference,

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the LORD,

for his love endures forever.” (2 Chron. 20:21)

Concluding Thought

“Praising God and rejoicing in Him in a crisis is possible only when we are certain about the goodness and justice of the cause or the Person for whom we fight.–Gheorghe Razmerita, Bible Study Guide, Teacher Comments, July – Sept 2022, p.121