Praising God Through Suffering

Kathy Brunker, Guest Writer

Most of us find it easy to thank and praise God when life's circumstances are going well for us: when we are happy about a new relationship; the birth of a child; a new job; or moving to a new home, to name a few examples.

But what about when circumstances are not so good: our relationship have turned sour; ourselves or a child is sick; we have been retrenched from our job; or we have been forced to give up our home. These things and many others can cause us to suffer.

Have you ever thought about praising God through your suffering? 

Four main reasons to praise God through suffering:

Praising God for Who He is

We can always praise God for who He is no matter what our circumstances.  His character does not change as our circumstances do and He is therefore always worthy of our praise.  1 Chronicles 16:25 says "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, He is to be feared above all gods."

Praising God for What He has Done

We can always praise God for what he has done for us in Christ.  This also is not dependent on our circumstances. It has happened in history and cannot be undone.  Romans 5:6 says "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."  And John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  This is certainly something for which to praise God! 

Praising God for Greater Dependence

We can also praise God for greater dependence on Him as we suffer.  When we feel that our circumstances are going from bad to worse and we choose to trust God and bring our troubles to Him in prayer we are showing our dependence on Him rather than the things of this world.  This brings Him glory but we can also praise Him that we are depending on Him rather than anything else.  Psalm 20:7-8 say "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of The Lord our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm."

Praising God for Becoming Christ-like

We can praise God that as we suffer we become more and more like Christ.  It seems to be an unfortunate thing but there is little doubt that we grow and are refined through trials.  But as Christians this growth and refinement leads us to maturity in Christ.  Through suffering we become like Christ, taking on His characteristics. Romans 8:28-29 say "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers."  Again this is certainly something for which to praise God!

Praising God through suffering is possible and dare I say it, desirable and beneficial.  I would like to finish this post with a link to a song by Casting Crowns called "Praise You in this storm".



Video Credit:

"Praise You in This Storm" at YouTube, uploaded by Jo Chan.  Accessed January 8, 2014.

Image Credit:

Enjoying God's nature blessings with family and friends at Forster, North Coast. Tel Asiado.   

About the guest writer: Kathy Brunker is a soprano and a songwriter of Christian songs. She's an active songleader at Chatswood Presbyterian Church in Sydney.