“About midnight (after having been illegally beaten and imprisoned), Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:25-26)

When life goes an angering, painful, or maddening direction – it’s the last thing we want to do.

But the power of praising God (especially in pain) is undeniable.

When we praise the wild, untamable Lion of Judah all heaven breaks loose – our perspective begins to shake and quake, doors that once imprisoned our minds fly off their hinges, and the bondage brought on by living in this corrupt world falls at our sides.

The Lion has roared.

David wrote, “You are holy, enthroned upon the praise of Israel.” (Ps. 22:3) God sets up the very throne-room of His Kingdom in the center of our praise.

Recently, I read the following quote: “The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of the pain, thanking God during the trials, trusting Him when we’re tempted to lose hope, and loving Him when He seems so distant and far away. At my lowest, God is my Hope. At my darkest, God is my Light. At my weakest, God is my Strength. At my saddest, God is my Comfort.”

A song written in the late 70’s says it best: “When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams; And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes; And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fear; Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear….Praise the Lord.”  (YouTube Link below)

On May 13, 2013, my son took his life. But I stand before you this day and proclaim: God is still God; God is still good; God is still trustworthy; Blessed be His Name…Praise the Lord…