Embracing Praise: Trusting God in Every Season
Summary
In these days of focused prayer, the invitation is simple but profound: draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. As we journey through the final week of our 21 days of prayer, the call is to embrace the praise of prayer—not just as a response to God’s blessings, but as a posture of the heart in every circumstance. Psalm 34:1 captures this beautifully: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This is not a call to shallow optimism, but to a deep, abiding trust in God’s character, whether we stand in victory or walk through pain.
When God answers prayers and brings breakthrough, it is vital to pause and give Him the glory. The stories of Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea, Hannah’s answered longing, and David’s deliverance all remind us that every victory is a gift from God’s hand. The New Testament echoes this, as the apostles and early believers erupt in praise at the mighty works of Jesus. Even heaven itself resounds with a thunderous “Hallelujah!” for the triumph of our God.
Yet, life is not only made up of victories. Many of us find ourselves in seasons of waiting, loss, or deep sorrow. The call remains: bless the Lord at all times. The Scriptures do not trivialize pain; rather, they show us how praise can coexist with suffering. Job, in the ashes of loss, worships. The apostles, beaten and imprisoned, sing hymns at midnight. The psalmist, overwhelmed by wave after wave of sorrow, still finds a song to offer God. There is a mysterious power in praising God from the depths of our pain—a power that transforms us, sustains us, and draws us closer to the heart of Christ, who Himself suffered for our sake.
Personal testimony bears witness to this truth. In seasons of devastating loss and unanswered questions, God’s presence and comfort become more real, and praise becomes an act of faith and surrender. Sometimes, praise is not loud or exuberant; sometimes, it is simply standing before God with a broken heart, offering what little we have. Even when the fig tree does not blossom and the fields yield no food, yet we rejoice in the Lord, trusting that He is working in ways we cannot see.
So, whether in victory or in pain, let praise be the oxygen that rekindles our faith. Jesus, who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, invites us to bring everything to Him—our triumphs, our wounds, our hopes, and our fears—and to find rest and strength in His unfailing love.
---
Key Takeaways
- Praise in the Victory
When God brings breakthrough and answers to prayer, it is essential to pause and give Him the glory He deserves. Every good gift and every victory is a direct result of His grace and power, not our own efforts. Let us not take His blessings for granted, but respond with heartfelt gratitude and public praise, recognizing Him as the source of all that is good. [19:10]
- Praise in the Pain
True praise is not limited to moments of triumph; it is most powerful when offered in seasons of suffering and loss. The Scriptures show us that the deepest worship often arises from the deepest wounds—when, like Job or the apostles, we choose to bless the Lord even as our hearts break. This kind of praise is not denial of pain, but a declaration of trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even when we do not understand. [52:02]
- Transformation Through Suffering
Pain and loss have the capacity to change us in ways that comfort never could. God does not intend for us to remain unchanged; He uses our afflictions to deepen our reliance on Him and to shape us into the likeness of Christ. The promise is not that we will remain the same, but that through suffering, God will work a transformation in us that is ultimately for our good and His glory. [59:55]
- The Power of Weakness and Dependence
Seasons of weakness and desperation reveal our need for God in ways that abundance cannot. In our frailty, we discover that there is a strength available only through surrender—sometimes through fasting, sometimes through simple, honest prayer. When we are too weak to stand on our own, we are invited to lean wholly on God, who supplies a fullness and strength that cannot be found elsewhere. [01:00:45]
- Praise as an Act of Faith and Surrender
When praise feels impossible—when grief, disappointment, or exhaustion threaten to silence our worship—offering even the smallest song or whispered prayer becomes a profound act of faith. God is honored not by the volume or exuberance of our praise, but by the authenticity of our surrender. Even if all we can do is stand in His presence and say, “I trust You,” that is a sacrifice of praise that pleases Him and rekindles hope within us. [01:05:47]
---
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - 21 Days of Prayer: Invitation and Encouragement
[04:45] - Standing on the Promises Service Details
[08:10] - Draw Near: Series Overview
[10:55] - Preparation and Petition in Prayer
[14:30] - The Praise of Prayer: Psalm 34:1
[19:10] - Praise Him in the Victory
[25:40] - Biblical Examples of Praise After Breakthrough
[32:15] - New Testament Praise and Rejoicing
[37:50] - The Thunderous Praise of Heaven
[41:30] - When God Does What Only He Can Do
[44:00] - The Call to Praise in the Pain
[52:02] - Job, the Apostles, and Praising Through Suffering
[58:57] - Personal Testimony: Loss and Surrender
[01:05:47] - Praising God in the Midst of Grief
[01:13:06] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Praise of Prayer—Victory and Pain
---
### Bible Reading
Psalm 34:1 (ESV)
> I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Job 1:20-21 (ESV)
> Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
> Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 34:1, when is the psalmist committed to blessing and praising the Lord?
2. In Job 1:20-21, what is Job’s response to devastating loss, and what does he declare about God? [53:20]
3. In Habakkuk 3:17-18, what circumstances does the prophet describe, and what is his chosen response?
4. The sermon mentioned several biblical examples of people praising God after breakthrough (like Moses, Hannah, and David). What did they do after God answered their prayers? [19:10]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to “bless the Lord at all times”—even in seasons of pain or loss? How is this different from ignoring or denying our pain? [52:02]
2. Why do you think the Bible includes stories of people praising God in both victory and suffering? What does this teach us about the nature of true worship? [54:22]
3. The sermon said, “Your greatest praise will come from your greatest pains.” Why might praise offered in suffering be especially powerful or transformative? [57:01]
4. How does the act of praising God in weakness or desperation reveal our dependence on Him? [59:55]
---
### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent victory or answered prayer in your life. Did you pause to give God the glory, or did you move on quickly? What would it look like to intentionally praise Him in those moments? [19:10]
2. Is there an area of pain, loss, or waiting in your life right now where praise feels difficult? What would it look like to “bless the Lord at all times” in that situation? [52:02]
3. The sermon shared a personal story of loss and how praise became an act of faith and surrender. Have you ever experienced a time when praising God felt more like a sacrifice than a celebration? What helped you keep going? [58:57]
4. When you feel too weak to pray or worship in the usual ways, what is one simple way you can still offer praise to God? (For example, a whispered prayer, a song, or just standing in His presence.) [01:05:47]
5. The sermon said, “Praise is the oxygen God will use to set your faith ablaze once more.” Is there a practical step you can take this week to let praise rekindle your faith—such as journaling, singing, or sharing a testimony with someone? [01:05:47]
6. In seasons of abundance, it’s easy to forget our need for God. How can you remind yourself to stay dependent on Him even when things are going well? [59:55]
7. Jesus invites us to bring Him our triumphs, wounds, hopes, and fears. What is one thing you need to bring to Jesus this week, and how can you trust Him with it? [01:13:44]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to spend a few moments in quiet, offering praise to God—whether from a place of victory or pain. Encourage honest, simple prayers of trust and surrender.
Devotional
Day 1: Praise the Lord at All Times
To praise the Lord at all times is to make worship a continual posture, not just a response to favorable circumstances. Whether God answers your prayers with a resounding "yes," a patient "wait," or even a loving "no," His worthiness does not change. True praise is not dependent on our situation but on the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. When you choose to bless the Lord in every season, you declare that your hope and trust are anchored in Him, not in the outcome. Let His praise continually be on your lips, for He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. [52:02]
Psalm 34:1 (ESV)
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Reflection: In what situation today—whether joyful or painful—can you intentionally choose to speak words of praise to God, even if you don’t feel like it?
Day 2: Praise Him in the Victory
When God brings breakthrough, healing, or answers to your prayers, do not let gratitude slip by unnoticed. Every good gift and every victory is from above, and it is right to give God the glory due His name. The stories of Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea, Hannah’s answered prayer, and David’s deliverance all remind us to respond to God’s mighty works with songs of praise and thanksgiving. Don’t take His blessings for granted; let your heart and voice overflow with worship, acknowledging that He alone is the source of every triumph. [19:30]
Exodus 15:1-2 (ESV)
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Reflection: Think of a recent answer to prayer or blessing—how can you publicly or privately give God the praise for it today?
Day 3: Praise Him in the Pain
Praising God in the midst of pain is not about denying your suffering, but about declaring your trust in His goodness even when life hurts. The Bible is filled with examples—Job, the apostles, Paul and Silas, the psalmists—who worshipped God through tears, loss, and hardship. When your heart is broken and your spirit is crushed, your praise may look different, quieter, or more desperate, but it is no less precious to God. In your darkest moments, let your soul say, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” for praise is the oxygen that can rekindle your faith and hope. [57:01]
Job 1:20-21 (ESV)
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Reflection: When you are hurting, what is one small way you can offer praise to God today, even if it’s just a whispered prayer?
Day 4: God Changes Us Through Our Pain
Seasons of suffering often leave us feeling like we will never be the same, and in truth, God uses our afflictions to transform us for the better. Pain is not wasted in God’s hands; it becomes the instrument He uses to deepen our reliance on Him, to shape our character, and to draw us nearer to His heart. Though you may grieve what has been lost, trust that God is working in you a change that is ultimately for your good and His glory. You will never be the same—and that is part of His loving purpose for your life. [01:01:30]
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV)
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Reflection: How has a recent hardship changed you, and in what way might God be inviting you to rely on Him more deeply as a result?
Day 5: Praise is the Pathway to Hope and Restoration
Even when circumstances are bleak and hope seems lost, choosing to praise God becomes a declaration of faith that He will restore and renew. The psalmists and prophets remind us that, though we see troubles many and bitter, God will lift us up again. Praise in the valley is not just a response—it is a weapon against despair and a pathway to renewed hope. When you praise God in the midst of your struggle, you invite His presence and power to work in your life, setting your heart ablaze with fresh faith. [01:05:47]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Reflection: What is one area of disappointment or loss where you can choose to rejoice in God today, trusting Him to restore you in His time?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Aug 17, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?