*Singing Praises when it’s Hard…These devotions are inspired by the Word of God as well as my own personal experiences. Yes, I am still a Home Decor Blogger but I am excited to share another part of my lifestyle, my faith. Thank you for being here. 

Verse of the Day: Psalm 34:1

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Do you sing praises when it’s hard?

When things take a downturn, do you find solace in song? It may seem odd to ask, but do you sing, scream, or yell when life throws a curveball your way? After a breakup, do you find yourself turning to a melancholic tune to ease the pain? I have.

Today’s reflection has stirred something deep within me, prompting me to ponder these questions.

Today’s Scripture passage from Acts 16:22-25 recounts the harrowing ordeal of the apostle Paul and his companion Silas as they faced persecution while spreading the Gospel.

Key Passages: Acts 16:22-25 NLT

[22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. [24] So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. [25] Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. …

If you don’t know about the life of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, this man wrote more than 50% of it. Paul was a staple in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ being the Savior. And at times, it was not a good experience. As you can see, he and his right-hand man, Silas, were beaten and throw into jail because of what they were teaching. As they sat in jail, they praised God by singing hymns.

The resilience displayed by Paul and Silas recalls a poignant story from my grandparents’ experience during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

It just destroyed the Florida Keys, Homestead and much more. My grandparents lived near Homestead, and for the Hurricane they decided to stay in the area with their close friend from church named Sue at her townhouse.

As the hurricane was coming towards the home, my grandfather noticed the front door hinges were starting to lift due to the winds. He ran to the door and grabbed onto the handles for dear life. My grandmother and their friend raced over, and each took over holding on to a handle as my grandfather decided to stick his food under the door to hold it in.

The three of them stood there in fear and pain for hours as they prayed that those doors wouldn’t blow away. If the doors were blown away, we would have lost my grandparents immediately.

My grandfather’s foot was starting to bleed as he held in that door and suddenly the roof came off as they stood there now soaked in their clothes. My grandmother started to cry at first and then she started singing a church hymn. Yes, singing. She sang “How Great Thou Art.”

She then stopped and my grandfather looked at her and said “No, don’t stop, keep singing.” So, she continued, and my grandfather and their friend Sue joined in. They sang together for about 20 minutes and suddenly the doors stopped shaking. My grandfather finally could remove his foot which was extremely bruised at this point. He turned around and there in the corner of the living was a yellow rope.

My grandfather was able to tie the rope around the front doorknobs to make sure the doors stay secured till the storm ended. What a miracle for that rope to just appear. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

God protected and blessed my grandparents that day because they called on the Lord and praised Him in their darkest moment in life through song. I can’t even imagine singing at a time like that, but they did. Praising God at a challenging moment like that is hard but God will hear you and deliver.

Reflecting on this story, I’m reminded of the power of praise and song in the midst of adversity. While I might have succumbed to tears, my grandparents chose to lift their voices in song, finding strength in their faith.

So, what song comes to mind when you are need of comfort or support from God? Share your favorite ones below.

Top 4 Songs that I find comfort in:

1. Brighter Day – Kirk Franklin

2. Victory – Yolanda Adams

3. I can Only Imagine – Mercy Me

4. Together Again – Janet Jackson (yes this is non-christian but I love it!)

*Singing Praises when it’s Hard…These devotions are inspired by the Word of God as well as my own personal experiences. Yes, I am still a Home Decor Blogger but I am excited to share another part of my lifestyle, my faith. Thank you for being here. For audio version check out Podcast form below…

Verse of the Day: Psalm 34:1

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Do you sing praises when it’s hard?

When things take a downturn, do you find solace in song? It may seem odd to ask, but do you sing, scream, or yell when life throws a curveball your way? After a breakup, do you find yourself turning to a melancholic tune to ease the pain? I have.

Today’s reflection has stirred something deep within me, prompting me to ponder these questions.

Today’s Scripture passage from Acts 16:22-25 recounts the harrowing ordeal of the apostle Paul and his companion Silas as they faced persecution while spreading the Gospel.

Key Passages: Acts 16:22-25 NLT

[22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. [24] So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. [25] Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. …

If you don’t know about the life of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, this man wrote more than 50% of it. Paul was a staple in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ being the Savior. And at times, it was not a good experience. As you can see, he and his right-hand man, Silas, were beaten and throw into jail because of what they were teaching. As they sat in jail, they praised God by singing hymns.

The resilience displayed by Paul and Silas recalls a poignant story from my grandparents’ experience during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

It just destroyed the Florida Keys, Homestead and much more. My grandparents lived near Homestead, and for the Hurricane they decided to stay in the area with their close friend from church named Sue at her townhouse.

As the hurricane was coming towards the home, my grandfather noticed the front door hinges were starting to lift due to the winds. He ran to the door and grabbed onto the handles for dear life. My grandmother and their friend raced over, and each took over holding on to a handle as my grandfather decided to stick his food under the door to hold it in.

The three of them stood there in fear and pain for hours as they prayed that those doors wouldn’t blow away. If the doors were blown away, we would have lost my grandparents immediately.

My grandfather’s foot was starting to bleed as he held in that door and suddenly the roof came off as they stood there now soaked in their clothes. My grandmother started to cry at first and then she started singing a church hymn. Yes, singing. She sang “How Great Thou Art.”

She then stopped and my grandfather looked at her and said “No, don’t stop, keep singing.” So, she continued, and my grandfather and their friend Sue joined in. They sang together for about 20 minutes and suddenly the doors stopped shaking. My grandfather finally could remove his foot which was extremely bruised at this point. He turned around and there in the corner of the living was a yellow rope.

My grandfather was able to tie the rope around the front doorknobs to make sure the doors stay secured till the storm ended. What a miracle for that rope to just appear. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

God protected and blessed my grandparents that day because they called on the Lord and praised Him in their darkest moment in life through song. I can’t even imagine singing at a time like that, but they did. Praising God at a challenging moment like that is hard but God will hear you and deliver.

Reflecting on this story, I’m reminded of the power of praise and song in the midst of adversity. While I might have succumbed to tears, my grandparents chose to lift their voices in song, finding strength in their faith.

So, what song comes to mind when you are need of comfort or support from God? Share your favorite ones below.

Top 4 Songs that I find comfort in:

1. Brighter Day – Kirk Franklin

2. Victory – Yolanda Adams

3. I can Only Imagine – Mercy Me

4. Together Again – Janet Jackson (yes this is non-christian but I love it!)

Be Blessed & Be Encouraged,

XoXo,

Jessi Morgan