Raise a Hallelujah
“I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies,
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief,
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody,
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me,
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm,
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar,
Up from the ashes, hope will arise,
Death is defeated, the king is alive!” (Bethel Music, 2019)
I have heard this song so many times. But the other day I was listening to it, and it hit different. The words have such a deep meaning to me. I have been saying for the past few months to praise Him through the storm. To hold fast to His promise that He is always there and He is my strength.
Yal, I have been through some pretty heavy storms in my life. I have felt like the walls were closing in or I was drowning. I have even had my moments where I asked why God had left me or allowed me to experience so much pain.
I was doing everything but praising Him through the storms.
As I have grown closer to Him and developed a stronger relationship with Him, I have learned to praise Him and thank Him in every moment.
Job is the best example of praising Him no matter what. In the book of Job, God allows the enemy to attack Job time and time again because He knows that Job has an unwavering faith in Him. Job has his moments and asks God how much more of this he had to endure, but never gave up his faith in God.
Are we living like Job? Are we allowing our faith to praise through the storms?
It can be so difficult finding joy when life is hard or heavy.
The line that says, “I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm, louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar,” should be just the right amount of motivation you need to push through the moments. When that line hits, I sing it at the top of my lungs. I sing it like I need the whole world to know that praises need to be heard, even in the midst of the heaviest storms.
Holding on to God’s words and His unchanging hand is such a blessing that we get to experience as Christian’s. He has promised to never leave us, no forsake us, no matter how ugly or ungrateful we are. So why wouldn’t I want to shout my praises, even when He is allowing the storm?
From the Old Testament to the New Testament we are told to continually praise Him because of who He is and how much He loves us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
David is encouraging us throughout the entire book of Psalms to give praise. And even the book of Revelation reminds us in 21:4 saying, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
I encourage you to play your favorite worship song or go to your favorite passage in the Bible when you are in the midst of the storm.
Challenge yourself to say “Thank you, God.”
Remember that He loves you and He knows what is ahead of your life. Some of these tough moments are to build us up and prepare us for what’s ahead.
Keep this thought in mind: If you knew what God knew about your life and what was waiting for you, would it be easier to praise Him, especially in the tough moments?
God’s Love and Mine,
Carrie
