So Many Bad Things Happening To Good People

You see it on the news, you hear it on the radio, you see it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope.  Everywhere people are hurting.  They are dealing with financial issues, health issues, spiritual issues.  They are oppressed, depressed, feel abandoned.  Life is just sad it seems.


Yet the Bible tells us that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I read those words and I look at so many around me and I wonder, where is that abundant life?  Where is the joy?   Those things come from God and the Bible also tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people. 


So now I ask, where is your praise?  We aren't told to praise for the good things.  We are commanded in everything to give thanks.  That means when your spouse leaves and you are broken hearted, you are to thank God, not for the situation but because He is God and He is faithful.  You notice it doesn't say FOR everything give thanks, it says IN everything give thanks.  When your children are wayward, in EVERYTHING give thanks.  When the bank account looks slim, we are still to give thanks!  When you are tired in spirit and body, give Him praise!


If we will find our praise we will be rewarded by the comforting presence of the Holy Ghost.  Right now, I'm looking at a number of things I don't understand - health issues, family issues but God knows where I am and He alone can comfort me and assure that I make it through.  There are other things that happen, I don't like them but I know they are consequences of choices/decisions I have made over the years, God isn't going to forsake me or neglect me because of these.  He is still there and He still wants to hear my praise.


A friend wrote a song years ago that has spoken to me many times over the years.   This is the chorus (Rodney Griffin I hope you don't mind if I use this)
'God wants to hear you sing,
When the waves are crashing round you,
When the fiery darts surround you
When despair is all you see
God wants to hear your voice
When the wisest man has spoken
And says, "Your circumstance is as hopeless as can be"
That's when God wants to hear you sing'


We find it easy to sing when we are on the mountain top but the true test of our praise is when we are going through trials.  God wants to hear us sing!  Because during those trials and battles we need Him there with us and He inhabits the praise of His people.  When we praise, we bring Him into the fight with us!  God answers prayers and I never want to discount the power of prayer.  Yet here is something that I believe I never truly understood to the fullest before.  He does answer prayer but He inhabits (Lives in) the praise of His people. 


I can cry to God and He hears me but when I praise Him, He is there with me.  Can you see why praising Him always is so important?  This is why Paul say IN EVERYTHING give thanks.  Thankfulness and praise go hand in hand.  I don't think we really get it.  At least I know I've been guilty of not getting it. 


God is showing me, He is leading me.  He wants me to have the joy and the abundant life but I can only have that when I trust Him, I praise Him.  I can't be mired in my circumstances and have it.