Can we Praise God through our sorrows?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by deedee310 on January 3, 2010 at 2:22pm

Very inspiring and encouraging. I have found out that not just myself, but everyone has something on their "plate". Each and everyone of us is struggling with something in our lives. Even though I am not married, I am happy for every person who is married because I believe it is a beautiful thing. I hope that this year will bring positive changes in your marriage, and that God will restore your marriage because I know that he honors marriages. Good luck to you!

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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on January 3, 2010 at 7:23pm

Debra, thank you for your bold witness to share this situation. What I can tell you is that I have experienced God's presence when I pray and praise him through sorrows.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on January 4, 2010 at 3:39am

Hi Debra,

Yes! We can Praise God through our sorrows! When we do, we are closer to Him because of them!
God does work miracles through our sorrows.
God is restoring my marriage after a very difficult 3 1/2 years. The trouble began when I became born again 3 1/2 years ago. My husband was very hostile towards my faith..he is still a non-believer, but he is no longer hostile towards me... God is at work....HE is always at work!

The circumstances to soften my husband in our lives have been NOTHING like I thought they would be,,,it is far too detailed to mention here, but I just want to reassure you that God is faithful. God is in control! I Praise God that you are trusting Him, and laying 'all' at the foot of the cross.

Do not be discouraged nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Carla on January 11, 2010 at 10:01pm

Amen Debra....

I have added you and your husband to my prayer list. I truly understand how hard it can be....

Much Love in Christ, Carla

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on January 25, 2010 at 12:52pm

Dear Debra -

I love your question and could write a book about it hahaha but not going to, so you can ralax hehe

James 1

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

What is impossible to man is very possible with God. Sister Genuine has given you great advice. I have also experience the ability to love those that hurt us and at times even persecute us. Not because I am superman, nope, not at all, but because God's grace and love has been sufficient for me.

My desire to bring Glory to my King by allowing him to turn the situation around for his glory has also help me to Praise Him through sorrow, but the main reason that I have praised him through the sorrow is because it amazes me, how He empowers us to praise Him through it all, when we simply obey Him. Without strengh to praise Him when we obey and push through and Praise Him any way - ohhh weeee the strengh comes, the peace that surpasses all understanding takes hold. I praise him because He is beautiful and faithful and consequently I am full of strength, joy and hope to keep fighting the good fight.

I also realized that now I can comfort others with the comfort He has given me through the sorrow.

2 Corinthians 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

And even one more bonus through the whole ordeal - i am matured throught the process. My character is built to reflect my Lord's,

So beloved Debra indeed my sister, my friend and co worker in Christ - Yessss, we can praise Him through the sorrow.

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on January 25, 2010 at 1:03pm

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

darrell evans

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Permalink Reply by Stacey Osana Arquines on March 17, 2010 at 12:22pm

You can praise God any way. The Father loves to hear people praising him, but in a sincere manner and not in vain. By sincere I mean genuine and not making others feel like they are not capable of praising the Father the same way as you. You are to encourage one another and love one another. When you praise God in front of others be sure that you are prepared to explain why he is praiseworthy so that others may not say it out loud or in simple context.

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Permalink Reply by Tia Darling Martin on June 20, 2010 at 1:33pm

I am a Christian, and I am studying Psychology at a University, I do not believe that one could exist without the other, mind and emotions life decisions are all psychological, as well as spiritual. First I would like to say that I am glad you have God to take your worries and burdens and anxieties, because you should not let fear hinder you from doing your duty to yourself. You cannot control your husbands desires but you can pray for him if he won't pray for himself. By doing so you open a door for God to enter his life that otherwise would not have been there. Leave him to God and focus on you. What he did or does is in no way your fault, but you do have a role in this, it is your life. You are commanded by God to love your neighbor as yourself, in order to do this you MUST first love yourself. Many women have this internal desire to be nurturers and to help others, make them happy at your own expense, we consider it humility. But God does not call us to be miserable, we are not to cause our own suffering as a service to God. Suffering comes in the circumstance, it should not come from within us. It is not prideful to claim your own happiness or to protest when it is taken. Start claiming what is rightfully yours. You have the RIGHT not to be cheated on, you have the right to say no to someone, you have the right to take a break, it is not too much to ask. It is your duty to ask, your own duty to yourself. If you are very clear in your mind about what your boundaries are, and someone crosses one. It is your duty to protest, protect yourself like you would someone else, you are just as important. If your husband breaks his marriage vows, (the very essence of marriage is the exclusivity of your love to each other), protest in word AND action. If he denies you the love you deserve, you must stop your own natural instincts to nurture and love and put your foot down. During this time you will have burdens, you will have fear, you will have anxieties, and worries, these are the burdens God asks for. Throw them off of your conscience give them to God He knows what to do with them. "Throw your cares on Him for He cares for you." Pray for a sound mind and you decide if this relationship is worth mending. When he comes begging for forgiveness and promising to change, you will have had time to know your answer.

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on June 20, 2010 at 1:50pm

Tia,

What you wrote has truth in it. I got to go to church right now, so I can't give you a detail answer, but will say the following:

Agape love is the God kind of Love, which is the love we long to exemplify. We are called to be willing to even give up our life for others. A sacrificial love is when we love like God.

Philippians 2
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Blessings on your studies. Psychology is one of my fav subjects. The wisdom of the world is cool and beneficial at times, especially when they are expanding on principals that can be found in the word of God, but it does not come close to Godly wisdom. Psychology is very cool though.

Blessings

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Permalink Reply by Tia Darling Martin on June 20, 2010 at 3:39pm

In verse 8 of phillipians chapter 2, Jesus is obediant to the point of death. But who was He obeying? It was not man because there were many times when mobs and even the church tried to murder Him. Only when it was asked by God was He obediant. That is the only perfect love and obediance we are called to serve. So when a man hits a woman or cheats on her, she should not look to what that man asks and obey,giving HIM agape love. she should look to what God asks and obey. God would never ask a woman to stay in a loveless marriage, or to be quiet about his cheating. His desire is for her happiness and the first step towards that is for her to leave the negative relationship don't you think?

I agree that we are to love like God. But how does he love? He is a forgiving God. It is one of His greatest qualities. but you must see that there is a process.
Before He could forgive us, we had to realize we had done something against Him. How did He show us that we were trespassing His will? He put Ten Commandments on two stones and said this is the law, don't break it or the consequence is death.

In the same way we should show everyone we share a relationship WHAT exactly our bounderies are. And tell them the consequences they will recieve if they are tresspassed.

The consequence does not have to be death (or at least not all the time) it could be death to the relationship as a result of you leaving it, God said death is the consequence because He is Life and He left those who tresspassed His law. If life leaves you... your dead. The consequence could be something less ultimate, depending on the severity of the tresspass.

How would this woman truelly be sharing agape love with her husband if he continues to cheat on her and she says nothing. states no bounderies, "Law" and lets him continue his behavior with no consequence. I can promise he will not change under these circumstances. (Nore would we if God allowed our sin, without saying a word, or setting a boundary)

It is agape love to not allow yourself to be mistreated throughout life, and to desire and attain the kind of relationship you deserve.
I am not telling this woman to "dump her man, he's no good, she deserves to find someone better" I am telling her to model her love after God's love just as you said she should do.

God did not stop there and neither should she. God gave man a choice, after we recieve our consequences of sin ie. unhappiness, unfulfillment, inner turmoil, we can either choose to continue this way (believing that God could never forgive us for what we do) or we could turn back to him, willing to change and begging for forgiveness. Those who do this, recieve that forgiveness. And although we are not perfect we ARE perfectly willing, to try and please Him.
Likewise she should search herslef and decide when he returns begging for forgiveness, whether he is sincere and truelly loves her, or if he does not love her nor wish to change, and whether she should grant or deny forgiveness.


Also, I may have said that I am studying Psychology, BUT I never said I did not study the Bible. I have a great relationship with God, and with others. The Bible commends people willing to educate themselves, the wisdom of the world it warns about is only pertaining to The reasonings AGAINST the Truth of the Bible.

"John said to Jesus, 'Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group.'
'Do not stop him," Jesus said, 'for whoever is not against you is for you."

You must understand That I totally agree with you, I am not against you I am spreading the truth and it is backed by the Bible, I'm just doing it in my own way, it's just a little differantly from your way. I don't wish to argue or become rivals, I actually admire your knowledge of agape love and I hope we could talk more you sound well studied and I always like to hear from a friend in Christ. : )

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on June 21, 2010 at 3:55am

Dear Tia,

First and foremost Welcome to AAG where we love to talk about all things pertaining to God and Godliness. We enjoy exchanging biblical truths and ideas. Having a teachable attitude is of the most importance, so we are not here to put each other down, but to grow together in Christ. Great to have you here. I see you as a blessing to this community. As a teacher, I like to teach, hahahha so bear with me ok. Anything I say here Is not meant in a mean spirited way. I am not into embarrising my beloved family either and I am so joyfull you are willing to exchange our different views in a loving manner. Kudos to you for that my sista.

>> But who was He obeying? It was not man because there were many times when mobs and even the church tried to murder Him. Only when it was asked by God was He obediant. That is the only perfect love and obediance we are called to serve.

1 Peter 2
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[f] leaving us[g] an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[i] of your souls.

>>So when a man hits a woman or cheats on her, she should not look to what that man asks and obey,giving HIM agape love. she should look to what God asks and obey.

1 Peter 3

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

God has commanded the woman to correct her husband without a word, even when they do not obey the word of God. Your number one weapon is a Godly conduct. Can and should a woman separate if there is physical abuse, yes. The Gospel being preach today is all about “Have your best life today, take care of number one “you” etc…. Far from the biblical truths that tell us:
James 1
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The beauty of Christianity to me is how we can have peace while things are falling apart, Joy thru it all and no fear even through the valley of death.

>>God would never ask a woman to stay in a loveless marriage.

God has asked billions of women and men to do just that and to let Him change the situation around for His glory. Millions of testimonies of this very thing throughout the world. God hates divorce.

>>In the same way we should show everyone we share a relationship WHAT exactly our boundaries are. And tell them the consequences they will receive if they are trespassed.

Your statement above has truth in it. But remember this parable:

Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

We have been forgiving so much, should we not forgive as well? Our boundaries should be exactly what the Lord says they should be. Not our human intellect alone or emotions.

>>Likewise she should search herslef and decide when he returns begging for forgiveness, whether he is sincere and truelly loves her, or if he does not love her nor wish to change, and whether she should grant or deny forgiveness.

There is nothing good in us, except God. So she should ask God how to proceed. She should have such a relationship with the Lord that she can be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. I agree with you that we should decerned as well if the person is serious about changing or only playing abusive games. We should always grant forgiveness. Due to adultery (Sexual immorality) one is able to divorce due to the hardness of our hearts, but it should not be our first option.

>> BUT I never said I did not study the Bible.

My sister – It is obvious to me that you do. I am blessed to hear your relationship with our Lord is good. Praise God. :)

>>The Bible commends people willing to educate.

Amen Tia. I agree 100% Press on beloved and thank you for your kind words and your awesome attitude.

Be blessed and a blessing.

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Permalink Reply by Tia Darling Martin on June 23, 2010 at 8:06pm

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this issue. We both have our own opinions on how to receive and express the Love of God practically, and neither are wrong because opinions are not meant to be wrong or right. They are meant to be our own perspective. I'm willing to see by your perspective, and I hope you can understand mine as well.

~Peace~

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