Throughout life I have encounter various storms, storms of hurt, storms of disappointment, storms of frustration, storms of confusion, storms of struggle, they have been hard and challenging storms. Even in this very moment, I find myself in a storm, one that is confusing, challenging and hard. However, I have found myself asking the question, what will I do? How do I choose to respond while in this storm?
I was challenged the other day by my fiancé to take time out and spend my day praising God, to praise the God who gives and takes away, to praise Him even though every ounce of my human nature, wanted to cry out in frustration and disappointment and confusion, he challenged me to do nothing but simply praise the maker of heaven and earth, the maker of me, the maker of life.
I am realizing that every ounce of the pain we feel while in the very middle of a storm is important in the refining of who we are, of who we believe God to be. I believe that something beautiful happens when in the midst of hardship we choose to praise our God, not because of what He can do but merely because of who He is, His very essence. When we choose to lift our hands, in complete surrender, letting go of ourselves, and even though we are torn between our pain and understanding, we still choose to praise, to praise with all that we are.
I am realizing that no matter what the storm may be and no matter what it may bring, I will not be moved. That as I praise the God of heaven and earth, that something within me is strengthened, regardless of the weakness I may feel while in the storm, the more I praise God for WHO He is, the more my strength to carry on through the storm is renewed, knowing that I am not alone, that my God is ALL that I need, that WHO He is, is more than enough for me and that He is worthy of all my praise, regardless of whether there is rain or shine, whether there is peace or turmoil, whether there is calm or restlessness, regardless I will praise my God, for He and He alone is worthy of all my praise.
