That Time I Did a Poor Job of Praising God {And What Changed My Whole Day}

Yesterday was a rough day. All of us were….incredibly grouchy, to say the least. We’re ready for spring to come (and it isn’t coming). I said some things I shouldn’t, both to my kids and my husband. And now I’m struggling through some personal convictions that aren’t pleasant to face. 

You see, originally this post was supposed to be about something else. It was going to be a show of strength, a proclamation that we can do what this Bible verse says:

“From the rising of the sun to it’s setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

I was going to talk about how, even in the mundane, whether good or bad days, we can praise God. And that we should, because it’s a command. 

Yet despite my good intentions (and prideful arrogance), I was rather humbled yesterday. My complaining spirit had gotten the best of me. I wasn’t praising God. I was throwing myself a pity party about how frustrated I was that I couldn’t get anything done and how I wished that I had the money to replace our falling-apart bedroom dresser right now. The kids were whiny and “bored”, no one had any motivation to help do chores and pretty soon the atmosphere in our home was down in the dumps.

But then….I heard with sadness some terrible news from a close friend. And then word came that another friend’s house had burned down to the ground, everything lost. Faces of men and women beaten and imprisoned in North Korea for their faith called out to me from the pages of a magazine. The reality of true poverty struck me as I listened to one of my competitive speech students relay her experiences on a missions trip.

My complaints faded into the background, becoming completely insignificant. I am too comfortable sometimes. It becomes too easy to lament minor discomforts.

But isn’t that how we find perspective? We recognize that so many people live through so much more than we ever will. We all have our burdens to bear, and yet in it all, we are blessed. And many times, those believers who are going through the darkest times are the ones who truly do praise God, from the rising of the sun until its setting, every day.

So now, I’m still going to share that we can praise God each day, all day. In the mundane, in the exciting, and in the devastating, His name is to be praised. But now I am just going to do it simply, and let the Scripture speak for itself. No prideful platitudes, no smug coercion. 

Recognizing again that I am a sinner, in need of grace, in need of the Holy Spirit to bring praises into my mind and out of my mouth. This is a beautiful truth that I am thankful to be reminded of today.

photo credit/text added