Hard times and declarative statements
I finally figured out what it means to say “praise God” when times are hard.
Do ever wonder why people say “praise God!” or “Blessed be His name” right after hearing disheartening news? I did.
I remember hearing one of my mentors say to me that if I encounter any form of trial, to say: “Praise God”. So if I have a flat tire, say “Praise God!” If I lose all I have, say “Blessed be His name.” And perhaps the most confusing for me: When really bad things happen I am to say: “God is good.”
As if I think He isn’t? I couldn’t help but think that people who do this have a problem with thinking God was good or faithful. Of course I took it as far as thinking people were really doing it for this reason: “I had better remind myself lest I forget the goodness of God and burn in hell forever!” A bit extreme I know, but at least I was honest with my feelings.
Today I took my Isuzu Trooper in to get yet another battery. I just bought this one last week. So they would replace it and I would be on my way.
Or so I thought.
The mechanic came in from the grease pit and told me with his crooked grin and dip tightly tucked under his bottom lip: “You need a new alternator,” he spit.
“And that’ll be ‘bout $300.00”.
I paused. Then, I forgot to say “Praise” and just said “God!”
Not wanting to take the name of our Lord in vain, I quickly added “bless America!”
Thus, I had some time in the waiting room to think about the subject of
hard times and declarative statements. And this is what I came up with:
For me, the first step of realizing what anything means is identifying what it does NOT mean. For me it doesn’t mean that I don’t think God is good.
It doesn’t mean I need to say it so other people will think better of me. I know God is good and faithful and I don’t care what other people think and rarely say it out loud anyway!
This is what I think it DOES mean:
When I learn of a hardship and follow it with saying “Praise God,” This is what I am saying :
“I choose to focus on what God has given me, on how HE has always been faithful to me, and with the strength that remains behind, I find faith to move forward in happiness, joy, and all else that encompasses “the abundant life” that Jesus so often spoke of.”
Then I gave a quick thanks for credit and charged the alternator to my card:)
Do ever wonder why people say “praise God!” or “Blessed be His name” right after hearing disheartening news? I did.
I remember hearing one of my mentors say to me that if I encounter any form of trial, to say: “Praise God”. So if I have a flat tire, say “Praise God!” If I lose all I have, say “Blessed be His name.” And perhaps the most confusing for me: When really bad things happen I am to say: “God is good.”
As if I think He isn’t? I couldn’t help but think that people who do this have a problem with thinking God was good or faithful. Of course I took it as far as thinking people were really doing it for this reason: “I had better remind myself lest I forget the goodness of God and burn in hell forever!” A bit extreme I know, but at least I was honest with my feelings.
Today I took my Isuzu Trooper in to get yet another battery. I just bought this one last week. So they would replace it and I would be on my way.
Or so I thought.
The mechanic came in from the grease pit and told me with his crooked grin and dip tightly tucked under his bottom lip: “You need a new alternator,” he spit.
“And that’ll be ‘bout $300.00”.
I paused. Then, I forgot to say “Praise” and just said “God!”
Not wanting to take the name of our Lord in vain, I quickly added “bless America!”
Thus, I had some time in the waiting room to think about the subject of
hard times and declarative statements. And this is what I came up with:
For me, the first step of realizing what anything means is identifying what it does NOT mean. For me it doesn’t mean that I don’t think God is good.
It doesn’t mean I need to say it so other people will think better of me. I know God is good and faithful and I don’t care what other people think and rarely say it out loud anyway!
This is what I think it DOES mean:
When I learn of a hardship and follow it with saying “Praise God,” This is what I am saying :
“I choose to focus on what God has given me, on how HE has always been faithful to me, and with the strength that remains behind, I find faith to move forward in happiness, joy, and all else that encompasses “the abundant life” that Jesus so often spoke of.”
Then I gave a quick thanks for credit and charged the alternator to my card:)
posted by Wes Martin at 12:19 PM
1 Comments:
LOL! great post. I'm glad to know your blogspot. so good to hear from you!
Crista
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