QUESTION:
“How can I praise God when I’m overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, and pain?”
ANSWER:
No matter how difficult or unjust our circumstances, ultimately, we choose whether to praise God or to neglect the praise that only He deserves. We choose what we praise God for and how long, frequently, and intensely we praise Him. Praise is driven by our will. It must never be dependent upon emotions or whims.
In fact, it is precisely during those times when we don’t feel like praising God that we most need to praise Him. That’s because praise is about what God desires us to do, not about the power of life circumstances. When you take your eyes off your immediate problem and place your focus on God, you redirect yourself toward what God will do for you.
For believers in Christ, this tangible, physical world is not our ultimate home. Our ultimate home is the heavenly spiritual realm where the presence and power of God is openly manifested at all times. When we start to view our present physical life in light of the ultimate spiritual life, things begin to change. Optimism, faith, and hope take root and flourish. This is how praise refocuses our feelings. God’s realm comforts, empowers, and heals us. That’s the real world we all seek.
