When life is beautiful, when the birds are singing and the sun is shining, praise is a natural reaction. In times like these, praise just bubbles up from the heart. But should we only praise God in our good times?
The Bible says: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
It might seem extreme to think of praising God “in everything,” even hardships. But if “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28), then we can thank Him for whatever comes into our lives.
There are many examples in the Bible of people who lifted their voices to God in their darkest moments. Their stories remind us that praise is not just a response to victory, it is often the pathway to it.
David was continually hunted by King Saul. There were times when David was discouraged, and at one point he even lamented that “I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul” (1 Samuel 27:1). Yet he did not stay in that downtrodden state; his writings are full of praise and thankfulness towards God. In Psalm 42:11 he wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (NIV).
Job lost his wealth and his children in one day. Yet, in his mourning he remembered God and declared: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). And in the end, God gave him back twice what he had in the first place.
Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching in the name of Jesus. They were beaten, thrown into the deepest part of the prison, and their legs were put in stocks. Yet, despite their dire circumstances, the Bible tells us that “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25). They were praising God in the dark even though they were in pain. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle! An earthquake shook the jail and opened not only the cell doors, but even the shackles off the prisoners! But none of the prisoners escaped; they all remained. As a result, the jailer and all his family believed in Jesus Christ and were baptized. (See Acts 16:25–34.)
Praise is like a candle in our darkness. Praise strengthens our spirit, invites God to be with us and declares that He is greater than anything we could ever face.