Praising God

Job 1:21
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on the coal mine tragedy in West Virginia and all that has taken place there. I happened to go to a news web-page during the short time in which the world thought that 12 of the 13 had survived. I cried as I read reports that they were praising God and thanking Him for 12 miracles. I whispered thanks to God that they were giving credit where credit was due. I myself praised Him for "coming through" for the families.

The next morning, when I went to the same news page, I discovered the horrible truth - the opposite was true, 12 were dead and 1 was clinging to life. I could hardly think - I didn’t know what to say. I immediately thought (as I often do) of all the people who were praising God for the miracle they thought He had given them, and asked God what they must be thinking or feeling. In response I heard Him ask me, "Will you praise me all the same?" I didn’t know what to say, although I knew that He was right. We must praise Him in the good and the bad. We must praise Him for who He is, not necessarily for what He does. Could I be just as pleased and elated with the 1 miracle He did give us, as opposed to the 12 we thought He had given?

I cannot imagine a more difficult lesson to learn. I am forced to ask myself if I would praise Him after a death - the death of a loved one? A job? A dream? A relationship? Could I praise Him even then? How about you? You see, praising God is a choice, and we can choose to praise Him in difficult times when we trust Him, and know Him. When the truth and reality of God has fully come upon us, we can’t help but praise Him at all times, knowing that He is in complete control. Yes, complete control - even when we discover that only one miner is alive. His plan is perfect, and He knows better than we do all that is involved.

Will you praise Him? Reflecting upon all this life has to offer - the good and the bad - we can choose to praise Him, simply because He is God and He is worthy of our praise.