Americans and our Afghani friends left behind to the Taliban’s terror. A 7.2 earthquake and Tropical Storm Grace in Haiti. Hurricane Ida bringing catastrophic flooding to Louisiana and Mississippi as well as many other communities on the eastern seaboard. The Delta variant. The dark events in August’s world have probably troubled you as much as they’ve troubled me.

For days after hearing about the 13 service members killed in Kabul, I had to fight the blackness of grief every time I thought about it. Three of these young people were raised within an hour’s drive of my home. About the same time, my sweet friend, Aleece, who I’ve mentioned before, was in Haiti. For a few days after the massive earthquake there–I didn’t know if she was still alive, suffering from a traumatic injury, or working long hours as a physician’s assistant trying to render medical aid to others. That added grey to August’s palette. Several friends of friends were stuck in New Orleans and I was praying for them, too. In Louisiana and Mississippi, murky brown water flowed into the picture. And within the span of a day additional dark events came forth in Facebook posts from three friends, who lost loved ones to COVID. Black. brown, grey and more black continued painting an ugly picture.

Could anything alter this bleak imagery?

Counterintuitive Artistry

On the Sunday that Ida pummeled Louisiana and Mississippi, Life Bible Fellowship Church lead pastor Gary Keith conducted one of the most powerful church services I’ve ever been part of. It was no ordinary Sunday. Our teaching pastor Dan Franklin had COVID. I’m not sure whether Pastor Gary had time to prepare a sermon and decided that wasn’t what we needed on such a day or if he had to scramble to decide what to do. Whatever the reason, the Holy Spirit certainly inspired the message we received.

Leading up to that Sunday, world events had me in tears almost to the point of despair. I couldn’t think of what to do and my prayers seemed way too small. Yet Pastor Gary’s profound message colored my world with the bright hues I’ve seen many times while facing despair in my personal life–when my husband divorced me, my sons moved away, my business failed, and I saw no hope for the future. After car accidents, during financial crises, and during health scares. Because of His greatness, God has inspired me to focus on His character even in the worst of times–and that’s brought in the richness of hope.

Praise Despite the Dark Events of Disaster

In the Bible, one Psalm after another lifts up hearts during difficult times. Psalm 146 is a good example of how we need to praise the Lord regardless of circumstances:

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul” I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God (v. 1-5).

It’s true. When we look to man or circumstances, we are often disappointed to the blackness of despair. But remembering God’s all-powerful, all-knowing, always-present nature never fails to paint a brighter picture. And, it’s been my experience that praises unleash God’s power in overwhelming circumstances.

Praise Enhances our Perspective

That happened during that Sunday service. Rather than allowing all the negative to paint an ugly black/grey/brown picture, praising God brought forth a kaleidoscope of color with a vibrant perspective of purpose. An email from Aleece validated God’s lovingkindness and help even in the most tragic situations. Not only was she OK, she was also on the front lines rendering aid to those who desperately needed God’s care. Aleece has learned the power of praise to sustain people in the worst of times.

I’ve never met a more upbeat person, even when she’s exhausted from dealing with COVID, gangs hindering the movement of supplies, and scrambling for the bare essentials like food, water, and shelter amidst extreme devastation. Regardless, praise fills her life with joy. It oozes from every fiber of her being and paints a brilliant portrait.

A Personal Event Needs New Colors

This week, that August Sunday reminded me to praise God during a terrible personal trial. That’s why this blog post took longer than it should have  The traumatic details must remain private for now, but I can share a personal story about how I learned the power of praise. As a young woman I was working in a super boring job filing blueprints all day long. My youngest son was only a couple of months old, and I wanted to be home with him and his brother. On weekends I cried because too much needed to be done (laundry, groceries, housekeeping) for me to spend much quality time with my sons. For months I prayed about quitting, but God remained silent. My job felt like a prison.

Then reading about Paul and Silas in Acts 16:24-26 changed me forever. It showed how when thrown in a jail cell, with their feet fastened in stocks, these two men:

were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

Although set free, Paul and Silas chose to stay. As a result of their decision the jailor and his household came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. God had plans and purposes for their situation.

That example started me singing praises quietly while filing blueprints. It lifted my spirits and painted a picture of God’s goodness to me and to my coworkers. Several months later God gave me a clear answer that it was time for me to become a stay-at-home mom.

Creating A Work of Art

We all need to see Christ’s character reflected in His people during these trying times. After Pastor Gary led us in times of devotion, prayer, and praise on August 29th, my heart and spirit was lifted up enough to carry on with the work I need to get done. Aleece’s example reminded me to stay focused on the work God created me to do. And, despite a difficult personal challenge slowing me down, I’ll keep praising my Creator because His purposes will work out for my good. He is that trustworthy.

If you need your spirit lifted up, I suggest you try praising our great God–not because you feel like it, but because He is worthy. Look at His character. He created the universe and can mix the black, grey, and brown of tragedy with  colors of splendor to paint our stories. The blacker the black, the brighter the variety of shades that color our world.