Life can be so very hard, sad, difficult, and filled with sorrow and pain. The last few days, I’ve been dragging my tail; a sweet friend is in hospice, my neck is messed up and hurting, and my surgeon isn’t sure what can be done. Other family members have gone through surgeries and need surgeries, and other family problems break my heart. Many friends are going through difficult times, plane crashes, and divisiveness, and social media and news spewing venom and hate. Ack! It’s a brutal, hard, depressing, difficult world!

Yet, I know God is good. I know God is always in control, loves His children, and promises to be with us through every trial and heartache. Regardless of what I see, feel, and experience, I need to continue praying and praising God. The Bible reminds us, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23, ESV).

“Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name (Hebrews 13:15, AMPC).

Gwen Smith wrote, “No matter what difficult times we encounter, God is worthy of our praise. When we choose to praise, we choose to trust God. When we choose to trust God, the broken world around us lifts their eyebrows in wonder … Sometimes a sacrifice of praise is required. Offer it. We can and should choose to bless His name through the pain, which astonishingly can bring His joy into our hearts.”

“We can hug our hurts and make a shrine out of our sorrows or we can offer them to God as a sacrifice of praise. The choice is ours.” ~ Richard Exley

I’m choosing to offer a sacrifice of praise to God. Will you join me?

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).

“Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!” (Psalm 150, HCSB)

“In the silent times, seek God. In the painful times, praise God. In the terrible times, trust God. And at all times, and at all times, thank God.” ~ Ann Voskamp

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