Psalm 22:3

We often hear someone praising the Lord for an answered prayer or something good that has happened. I sometimes wonder as I listen, “Would you still praise God if things had not turned out this way?” Too often our praise is conditional upon what pleases us. That kind of praise has a very short life span.

When Job was hit with the worst kind of news, some expected him to crumble. The Bible says that he worshiped and said, “…BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.”

Unconditional praise is lasting praise. Sure, we are expected to show our gratitude to God for the things that he does. It is a powerful witness when we do, but there is a difference between thanksgiving and praise. Praise is not about what God does, but who God is; and for that reason we can lift up hands of praise no matter what He does or doesn’t do.

It is in praise that we often experience the Lord’s comforting presence. (God inhabits the praise of His people.) When we praise and worship him in the middle troubles, we realize that it is the abiding presence of God that keeps us through the storm.

Things looked bleak in the prophet Habakkuk’s day, but he made up his mind. If he lost everything that matters to his earthly life, he would still celebrate the one who never fails, and who never abandons those who trust him. “… yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:18 Can we do any less?

“Just the precious name of Jesus is worthy of our praise,
Let us bow our knees before Him, our hands to heaven raise;
When He comes in clouds of glory, with Him to ever reign,
Let’s just lift our happy voices, and praise His name.”