As a new young queen, Im sure Esther felt a little out of her element. Difficult times can lead us to a point where we feel like our backs are against the wall and there are very little options before us to find a way out or a solution to overcome. I'm just an ordinary girl following an extraordinary God, learning to seek God's possible in this world of impossible. Praising God in hard times requires faith. Here are five of these individuals, and some takeaways we can learn from them. She was just a young girl who was trying to survive. When Jesus entered a village (Luke 17) there were ten lepers that called out to him for healing. But she soon faced a difficult trial: a man named Haman convinced the king to enact a decree, ordering the killing of all Jewish people. God is an outside-the-box thinker. But the basis of our faith for this praise is Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to them that love God.". So King Saul took on the task of making Davids life impossible, persecuting him and trying to kill him, and although David had multiple opportunities to put an end to all that, he steadfastly refused to lay a finger on the king, firmly believing that the God who had anointed him would find a way to put him on the throne. King David in the list of Grateful Men in the Bible. However, those same slaves of whom you speak will honor me. But soon enough, problems occurred: three days had passed and they could not find drinkable water. We can look to her as an example for how to handle the chaos of our daily lives. They had the desire to stay righteous while they waited for their longings to be fulfilled. In Mark 5, we find a scene that is prevalent throughout the gospels: a large crowd has gathered around Jesus. Your safety isnt guaranteed. If you are like me, and you endure adversity for any length of time, it can be easy to lose faith and quickly turn to self-pity and unbelief. Its good to know that our Father invites us to confide in him, to share our feelings honestly in prayer. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. BENEFITS OF PRAISING GOD. led numerous successful military campaigns, 3 Examples of Trusting God When Times Are Hard, How to Have Faith When It Seems So Hard To Hope. With the water at their backs, and Pharaoh and the Egyptians bearing down on them, it was only God who could provide a way it. God set up His people for an incredible future of redemption and hope. & Privacy Policy. Trying something new may be the last thing on your mind, especially when you have a chronic health challenge or are in the midst of long-standing troubles. In fact, there are so many that it was hard to narrow down the list. From the dramatic, such as fleeing kings who want your life, to the more relatable, like losing ones freedoms, family or livelihood God is with us through it all. Every day we work demanding jobs and do what we can to help care for our families. Now this doesnt mean that those problems will suddenly disappear or that it will be smooth sailing from here on out, but it does mean that my face will brighten again and the weight of the burden will lessen. They also understand how to remain faithful while waiting on God. When we think of praise, it may help to note that this includes thanksgiving, speaking well of God, confessing faith, and a vast array of adoring expressions. Job When talking about Bible characters who suffered, Job would be one of the first few people Christians think of - and rightly so. Read Chapter All Versions. A young girl filled with immense thanks knew exactly where her praise was to be directed. He thenaccepted that trusting God through it all was enough. Its both amazing to think and sad that only one man returned to give thanks for healing from a debilitating disease. Even though David had the solution to his problems, he never strayed from his morals. It doesnt take away the pain or difficulty of what were going through, but it can help us both see and be light in the midst of darkness. (4) We can be thankful in difficult times . While visiting with Elizabeth, who was carrying John the Baptist at the same time Mary was pregnant with Jesus, the young girl had a moment of exclamation. Though her two daughters-in-law tried to stick with her, Naomi refused to be comforted and pushed relationships away. However, I noticed that if I participated in teasing others with them, they would befriend me. That was what happened to queen Esther. How do you respond when things dont go well? This is the kind of friend God is to us (Psalm 103:8 VOICE), and the kind of friend we should be for each other. Our destiny is determined by God. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest and as they did, all ten were healed. But now he had a choice to make. "Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; They will be (Be Still) singing Your praises all the day long. How can you trust that, whatever happens, it is God who still loves and guides you? I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;even at night my heart instructs me.I keep my eyes always on the Lord. God will fight for you. When we read that David was a king, anyonemight think that it would be very easy for him to be grateful to God. But I will sing of your strength;I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.For you have been to me a fortressand a refuge in the day of my distress.O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,for you, O God, are my fortress,the God who shows me steadfast love. / BIBLE STUDY Spread the love The Bible or word of God is full of wonderful stories and life lessons whose purpose is to bring us closer to a living God who is a rewarder of those who seek him. The only way God can use everything in our lives to glorify Him and bring us to salvation is if God is sovereign, which means He must be and is in control of everything. , whom he had already taken as a wife knowing that she was each. Your donation will go to funding the generation of more faith-based content to sow into the digital domain. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Brittany Rustis a writer, speaker, and has the privilege of serving on staff at Red Rocks Church in Denver, CO. She is also the founder and director of Refresh Women's Event. To have hope in God is to wait expectantly for him. David: trusting God when life is not how you pictured it, 7. Moses is another Bible character who suffered several instances of hard times. If you keep reading his story, Jacob ends up reconciling with his brother after wrestling with God. Ecclesiastes 9:11 teaches us that time and chance happen to us allin other words, everyone will, at some point or another, experience some adversity. What are the areas of your life that overwhelm you the most? In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Woman healed by Jesus: trusting God is taking risks despite the pain, 5. I think the enemy knows that as long as we wait for everything to line up before we praise the Lord, well stay stuck a lot longer than we need to. They remained calm and confident in the face of the Kings life-threatening anger at them. He replied, Jacob. [28] Your name will no longer be Jacob, the man told him. My to-do list feels like it goes on forever. Praising God in the hard times doesn't minimize or deny heaviness of heart. Even though she kept being afraid, she pushed through anyway because her faith in the purpose for which God chose her was greater than her fear. Hannah Hannah gave a long prayer of thanks to God in 1 Samuel 2 because God granted her petition for a son. Many men and women we consider pillars of the faith represented an attitude of thanksgiving so well. Thankfully, we can always turn to Gods word for guidance whenever we go through such difficult periods. We can still praise him for the Cross and the Resurrection. . Someone in the Bible who understands this dilemma is Esther. From Moses, we learn something simple yet often overlooked: we should remember to turn to God for help. Keeping faith in God during hard times can be extremely difficult. Deborah believed and trusted God in a way that can be hard for us to do. by Admin Team. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! Get the Surrounded Devotional 14 days of exploring how God is with you in the storm and learning how to fight your battles by praising God. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-26, Paul explains universal principles about prophecy. Psalm 51: The Prayer of a Repentant Sinner bible study, The bearers of the Ark had scarcely advanced six steps, when David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "you are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.". How do you respond when given the chance to step up? One of my biggest fears is the fear of bad news. I will praise you more and more. While queen Esther was Jewish, she had been hiding her identity. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Why so disturbed within me? In one sense, its a choice, not a feeling. The Psalmist is full of longing to be in God's House. How Should Christians Respond to Feeling Stuck in Life? Have you found yourself slipping into the dark shadows? Yet Jesus' answer is that we must trust in . So let us all trust in God and turn to Him. But the part that is most astonishing is their focus on God even if He didnt save them from the flames. For this, God rebukes David, through his prophet, and punishes him, however, David wholeheartedly turned to God who forgave him. How do you trust God through difficult times? Everyone experiences periods in life that look nothing like they had imagined. 1. How is God trying to be a friend to you? 6. However, in the book of Samuel, we find a passage, where it is evident that Davids state of gratitude went beyond what his words expressed, and far above his wifes contempt, he would always praise God. Theres only one exception, and thats if the king were to hold out the gold scepter to that person and spare his or her life. They won the battle without a sword even being drawn. They trusted God completely. David replied: I did it in the presence of the LORD, who instead of choosing your father or If youre going through a hard time, are you relying on God and friends, or are you pushing them away? Do you run, get defensive, shut down, or do you take your feelings to God? Jacob: Trusting God when youve messed up, 10. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Not Helpful So we do not lose heart. If I had this strong of a belief that Gods hand was in every effort of my day, I would be a lot more content with each days accomplishments. Be honest with yourself, God, and friends. Remember that God is surrounding you! Are you facing battles in your life? Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego: trusting God no matter the outcome, 8. I will exalt you, Lord,for you lifted me out of the depthsand did not let my enemies gloat over me.Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me.You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit.Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;praise his holy name. ax. But, if we review Davids story in the Bible, we realize that becoming king for him was a difficult path to travel and that, however, God was with him in every part of his life. While the governor did not believe Paul was guilty, he kept Paul in prison for two years, hoping someone would give him a bribe for Pauls release. And who knows? He had everything that anyone living in that time would want a big family, good health and plentiful wealth. Only one returned to Jesus to thank him. What in your life is not how you pictured it? Deepen and inspire your prayers with 16 ways to pray! So while it may seem easier to take immoral solutions during times of trouble, doing so will only cause future regret especially on the day we meet God. This is why we give praise to the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name!Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits,who forgives all your iniquity,who heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pit,who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,who satisfies you with goodso that your youth is renewed like the eagles.The Lord works righteousnessand justice for all who are oppressed. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, Can this be Naomi? [20] Dont call me Naomi, she told them. Difficulty comes in all shapes and sizes. [26] Then the man said, Let me go, for the dawn is breaking! But Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. [27] What is your name? the man asked. They are an example of people who understood longing unfulfilled the heartache of being denied something you long for and not knowing why. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Even though it would have been safer to prioritise himself and stay quiet, Paul focused on bringing people to God even while imprisoned. Hes willing to help us work through our pain and defenses to transform us into someone new. Our relationships can completely change for the better when we are willing to trust God with our mistakes and sins. Hannah was one of two wives to a man named Elkanah; Hannah was barren but the other wife had many children. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is about the faithfulness of God, and what it means to live by faith. What is one thing that you could do to make God more a part of your daily life? But with the encouragement of friends and prayer we had to decide whether our faith was going to be in our circumstances or in God. But before all that can happen, God gave Isaiah an intense vision that overwhelmed him. Praise God in the storms, through the battles, and when life gets hard. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is about the faithfulness of God, and what it means to live by faith. Instead of answering his question, God asked Job if he understood the workings of the complex universe like He does. To see difficulty the way God does, we need Bible verses for hard times that we can hold on to. Throughout his life, Jacob was used to dealing with his problems by running away from them. Heres another Bible character who God journeyed with through tough times. Learning from Jesus to see past our failures and find our potential. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever. We too need to believe that our future is in the hands of a God that loves us. Paul was then transferred to Rome and placed under house arrest for another two years. Hannahs praise wasnt just the reflection of an answer to prayer, but it proceeded giving up her son. Use these timeless Bible verses about praising God in your prayers until your heart can find its own words. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and . Ultimately, its the Lord who heals the distressed soul. [7] But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Saul slept in a cave where David was hiding, and another time when David snuck into Sauls army camp at night. What are you carrying that at first might have seemed a bit fearful but you can now be thankful for? They accused Job of sinning, asserting that his suffering was Gods punishment. David is a man known for praise. Psalm 42:11 (NIV), But I will keep on hoping for your help; How do you handle adversity? Bible verses about praising God can help guide your prayers in these times. Hannah is one of my favorite people in the Bible and someone Ive learned a lot from. Carrie Underwood Sings 'Go Rest High On That Mountain' to Honor Vince Gill, What We Can Do Today to Reach People in Need, 10 Ways to Deal with the Difficult People in Your Church, 7 Ways to Study the Bible Like Billy Graham, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God. King David is another member of royalty from the Bible who faced troubled periods. Maybe you come up with a lot of reasons or excuses for why you shouldnt be the one to act. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If God is real, why doesnt He end our suffering? Our loved ones may try to lighten our load or lift our spirits, but unfortunately, their efforts can fall short. Everyone goes through difficult times. Why praising God through your worst days is the best battle plan you have? He promised never to leave or abandon his children, so we can count on his presence, even when our emotions can't confirm it. But even though God is love, and He loves every one of His children, He leads us . There were many moments in Davids life that were not how he would have pictured it. In the good and the bad, in the ups and downs, our natural response must be gratitude. Although the woman in this passage was unnamed, her story of faith is unforgettable and inspires me to never give up. 16 Bible Verses about Praise, Examples Of. Put your hope in God, She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the . [11] O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. [25] When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacobs hip and wrenched it out of its socket. KJV Bible!. The Bible or word of God is full of wonderful stories and life lessons whose purpose is to bring us closer to a living God who is a rewarder of those who seek him. Marys heart was full of praise and it outpoured into the world. Among these stories, those of Grateful Menin the Bible stand out, helping us to know how we should be grateful to God and what we gain from it. Even though Naomi tried to push both her daughters-in-law away, Ruth refused to be shut out. These cookies do not store any personal information. vv. He gave him a tenth of all. How did I get myself here?. Have you ever said this about your life? This is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple described as very old, and childless.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Worship is being honest with God. But the basis of our faith for this praise is Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to them that love God." Here are 47 bible verses about praising God in hard times. When we feel alone, what often helps us not slip into bitterness is to see the purpose we have in other peoples lives.
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