Even When It Hurts......

"Even when my strength is lost

I'll praise you

Even when I have no song

I'll praise you

Even when it's hard to find words

Louder then I'll sing your praise

I will only sing your praise"

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This is a song by Hillsong United titled "Even When It Hurts". This part of the song speaks so much willpower we all possess in us. We go through seasons in life when it's one thing after the other that keeps going wrong and we feel hurt and weak. This changes how we carry ourselves. We go into a time of darkness and that becomes our "wilderness". In the wilderness as you can imagine, it's very dry, hardly any water around, it's hot and it's quiet. We go through wilderness seasons when we feel distant from God and we can't hear him because we're not in tune with him. We try so much to do things in our own strength and make our own plans. I can definitely relate to that. I went through a season where I didn't realise I was far from God and everything I tried plan-wise was not working. I remember just breaking down and just talking to God about how I felt, how annoyed I was and physically and mentally tired. Then I realised, I was just making plans without consulting God first. I was doing a lot of demanding but not enough praising and showing gratitude for the little things or things I wouldn't even think about i.e waking up everyday. I was only coming to him when I needed his help and He was trying to reveal that to me.

This song helped me a lot during the hard times but also served as a reminder that even when the world is falling apart, I praise and show gratitude. With all that is going on in the world at the moment, I praise because I know there is nothing that takes place on this earth God did not already know about. I praise because I know he has plans to "prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future..." (Jeremiah 29:11-12). You can apply this to your life as well. When you're hurting, praise him. Yes, talk to God and tell him how you really feel. He already knows but there's something about actually saying it out loud that makes you admit how you are actually feeling. When you do speak to him, make sure you're speaking and listening to what he's saying to you. Then, don't dwell on the pain of what you're feeling. Instead praise him and trust him to do what only He can do. There are so many things God has done for us that we can be greatful for. He is a faithful God and a promise keeper. I know it is easier said than done but challenge yourself to start from today that when you feel scared, hurt etc, you will pray to God but also praise him for all he has done, is doing and will do in and through you. Do this every single time and you'll realise you're doing it without even thinking about it. Another scripture I turn to is Isaiah 41:10 which says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we will obviously think that problem is insurmountable but I want to remind you (and myself!) that that situation is only temporary and it will pass. Bring it to God and he will help you. I recently learnt that we need to change our perspective when we approach a "wall" and things happen as a way for us to grow and work on ourselves which makes us stronger in our faith for the next obstacle we face. Matthew 17:20 says “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

So, I implore you to spend some time with God, pray (prayer is just like having a conversation and you don't need to use fancy words), talk to others because we are not meant to journey on our own, surround yourselves with people who will build you up and most importantly, praise Him in every circumstance you find yourself - good or bad. This is one of our greatest weapon against the devil. He will want you to give up, feel unworthy and feed you lies and he wants you to stay there. But when you praise, it angers him and you are declaring that even though you are hurting, you will serve and focus on God and what he calls you to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrSJwO5dJXg