Singing in the Storm

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. — Psalm 16:9

Life can be stormy. A simple glance at the headlines, a look at your bank account, or an unexpected emergency can disrupt your day in a moment. It can seem like hardship is everywhere, threatening to thunder its power over you.

But with Jesus, worship can flow unobstructed from our mouths. A song of praise can be on our lips.

Seeing Jesus makes our hearts glad and restores rest. Seeing Jesus causes us to sing.

You may be thinking, Why would we sing when the outcome of this struggle is not yet decided?

No matter how stiff the headwinds of life become, you can sing because you know God is with you. You see His might and are reminded of His love.

He has always come through for you, and His mercy has never failed. You don’t lose sight of Jesus because of the raging seas. With your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, you cry out, “You are in control!” Not ignoring the presence of danger but declaring the presence of God. When you surrender, you open yourself up for gladness, rejoicing, and peace.

Prayer 

Lord, in You my heart is glad. The storm may rage, but I know I am secure and at peace with You.

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Redemption Is His Calling Card 

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. — Joel 2:25

Christ died, and in three days He rose again from the dead — conquering evil forevermore. The Son of God is an overcomer, and He offers you that same resurrection power in your life today. 

• God can restore and bring about something beautiful from the chaos, and He can rewrite the legacy of devastation in your past.

He can and will bring the change that displays His power and love as He leads you forward into life and fullness of joy. This is not some fairy-tale promise or some wishful mumbo jumbo. It’s bedrock truth anchored in history at the cross of Jesus.

The prophet Joel proclaimed this. Even if people have hurt you, or circumstances have stolen good and fruitful things from you, even if loss has left your heart like a devastated mountainside, clear-cut of everything beautiful and fruitful and promising — it’s not the end of your story. Even if a firestorm of destruction has left your life bare, God is in the business of giving beauty for ashes — of repaying what the locusts have eaten — and that’s what He wants to do for you.

Prayer 

God, You are the Great Restorer. Take my chaos and bring about a beautiful display of Your holy renewal in my life.

Excerpted with permission from Grace & Glory by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

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Your Turn

Even if you’ve experienced devastation, or you’re in it now, God will give you beauty for ashes. Because of Him, because of His love and His promise to make all things new, we can be joyful… so joyful our hearts sing! ~ Devotionals Daily