Even in this...Praise Him!

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:26 

Praise is greatly honoring to God! In the Old Testament account of King Jehoshaphat, God's people faced a seemingly insurmountable enemy who was determined to destroy them. Yet God assured them that they would “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:17). The people of Judah believed God. Their army was led by singers, offering praises to the Lord for their promised victory, and the victory came. When King David led the procession bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he praised God with all of his strength (2 Sam. 6:12–23). David's praise was pleasing to God, and God's powerful presence remained in David's kingdom to give him victory against every enemy. Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane and to the cross, where God's greatest victory would be accomplished. He led His disciples to sing a hymn. The disciples were all about to fail Him, and Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, yet Jesus insisted that they praise God. Their praise looked beyond the cross to God's ultimate victory. Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God. You ought to rejoice when God asks you to proceed in the work of His kingdom because you know the victory is already secured. Don’t focus on the problems and failures of others. Focus on God's assurance of victory. If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

A great many people these days see a bleak future. Some may go as far as to say it's a judgment upon our nation, upon our world.  

There's been the questions asked about the other side of this virus, about the mental health of people. Of a predicted high suicide rate. 

Those are valid questions.  Yet the truth remains, God was not surprised.  God has not changed. God has not suddenly turned on all of mankind indiscriminately.  By no means!  Jesus, on many occasions, said that He came to seek and save the lost.

Yes, believers and unbelievers alike are being hit with this thing.  To the believer it's to the glory of God in that someone might be now reached to be saved that otherwise wouldn't have been reachable.  To the unbelievers it's to do with it being their time. That the possibility of being saved has reached an impasse.  They wouldn't come to Christ even in this hour. 

In the case of the believer, we still need to rejoice in the Lord always.  Jesus was facing the single most important, most horrific point in all of eternity, let alone of all time.  He already knew, because He was God, what He was about to suffer.  Yet look at this passage.  He wanted to have them sing praises in this storm. 

Casting Crowns, the Christian music group, has a song by the same name.  Praise You in this Storm. 

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

 

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

 

CHORUS:

And I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I’ve cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

 

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can’t find You

 

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

 

CHORUS:

And I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I’ve cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

 

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

 

CHORUS:
And I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I’ve cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

 

CHORUS:
And I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I’ve cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

Read those words.  This song certainly came to mind after reading many things this week.  But it's not the only one.  I also think of one by another Christian group MercyMe called Even if.  

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
'Cause I know You're able
I know You can

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Is it well with your soul?  Look up the words to that old hymn.  It matters not what this world sees. Matters not what the world says.  

There are truths that must be proclaimed in this moment in time. 

Jesus tells believers to rejoice, even in this, rejoice.  

Jesus is telling those who haven't yet placed their faith and trust in Christ alone for Salvation, behold, I am coming soon.  

As God had me write down in another post, which will you face Him as, Savior or Judge?

I keep hours and hours of music on my phone to praise my God at any time.  Lord knows there's been times when it's been hard.  But nothing has ever been as hard as His going through the beatings, the humiliation of crucifixion.  Yet He said to His Disciples, let's sing to God. 

Singing to God takes your mind off of you and places it back on Christ.  Peter came back up from the water in which he was sinking when he put his eyes back on Jesus. 

In a prison, Peter and another sang praises while in a dank prison, held up off the floor in stocks. 

This may not be easy to do but it is doable. 

Jesus knows our needs before we can say them.  He knows what's going on right now.  He is forewarning the world...I am coming soon.  Scripture must be fulfilled.  After singing a hymn they departed. Scripture was fulfilled.  There's Scripture yet to be fulfilled and it will be.  The clock started again when Israel became a nation again.  It's not stopping.  

I long for the moment when I can finally embrace my Savior.  To know the struggles of this life are over when that happens.  He is coming.  The King is coming.  Are you ready?  Sing out in this storm...