Praise You In This Storm
Hi Everyone!
I am four days into writing these blogs, and I have been so encouraged by the different ways God is speaking to me through reading and diving deep into His word. I pray you too would find clarity and comfort as you seek Him.
Take a moment to read these verses in James, meditate, journal, and reflect.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ESV
I don’t know about you, but it is not my natural inclination to find joy in my sufferings. I do not find it natural to praise God in the midst of a storm. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I often find myself asking God, “why me?” and “why this?” I am not saying (nor is James in these verses) that storms are joyous themselves, because sadness, pain, and hopelessness are all real feelings. They would not be considered painful if they were characterized by joyful emotions. What James is saying, is that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are able to reframe our outlook on life and the storms we face. We are able to walk through the most painful circumstances, yet experience a true joy that is unlike any other.
How?
Well, in God’s sovereignty and divine provision, He uses trials to serve a purpose— a purpose for our greater good. When we are stripped of all our comforts and pleasures, we are drawn to something deeper. We are drawn to Someone we know will fully satisfy our every desire.
Think about your life right now. Think about how different it looks than a month ago, when you were so busy and consumed with all the things you had to do, the people you had to see, and the stressors that built up each and every day. I would imagine that most of you would say life has slowed down a considerable amount since this pandemic. You have been stripped of your normalcy and the comfort of having a structured schedule. Now what do you do?
You cling to God and you praise Him in this storm. You see this slowing down as a way to spend more time with Him.
James reminds us that counting our trials as joy, which is a test of our faith, produces steadfastness. He then goes on to say, “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
When God tests our faith by allowing us to walk through trials, he is keeping our faith alive. Faith without having to trust God is not faith at all.
So, we can praise Him in the midst of this storm, because we know that He is doing a greater work in us than we can see. We know He is producing a steadfastness within us that through Jesus, will make us perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Reflection Question: What does it look like to praise God in the storm?
Today’s Worship Song: Praise You In This Storm — Casting Crowns
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Zyf0pjpdBBIfp4oax9PG5?si=dyvke-F4Qx2tCoIm8jYKug
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/praise-you-in-this-storm/269440851?i=269441147
I just want you to know that I am genuinely sorry for the pain this season of life may be causing you. I know many of you are facing storms in addition to everything that has come with Coronavirus. Your pain is real and valid, but God is a BIG God, who works all things for our good and for His glory (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28).
I pray we would use this time to cling to the truth found in God’s word and allow Him to test our faith, preserve our faith, and keep us as His own. For He is worthy of our praise…even in the storm.
With love,
Brooke
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