Lesson 34: God’s Sovereignty Teaches Us the Power of Praise

Hebrews 13:15-16 - "Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

The writer of Hebrews instructs on some practical ways in which we can please God. One, we can do good things; two, we can share things; and three, we can continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise. Please notice the two things about this kind of praise that pleases God. One, it is continual, and two, it is a sacrifice. We love to praise God when things are looking good for us, but we do not want to praise Him when things are looking down. To praise God when things are looking bad, that would be a sacrifice. God makes it very simple for us. There are only two times we should praise the Lord. When we are alone, and when we are with somebody. But since we often fail to do this, we miss out on the power of praise.

So God orchestrates a few difficulties and teaches us that we can either pout because of our pain or offer up a sacrifice of praise in spite of our pain. Once we learn to praise God at all times, not just in the good times, we discover the power to overcome our pain in the bad times!

Psalm 42:5 - "Why are you so cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God."

The power to make it through disturbing circumstances and even a deep dark depression comes not by getting rid of our problems but by praising God in spite of our problems!


It is impossible to avoid problems or pain in this life. Thankfully God does not leave us hanging high and dry. He shows us that the way to make it through our problems is by praising Him in spite of our problems! This power of praise not only works with a momentary depression, but even with a mournful death, like Horatio Spafford learned. It was out of the death of his daughters that he wrote the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”

True praise does not depend on our feelings but rises in spite of our feelings! True praise is not centered on ourselves, but on our Savior. Horatio's hymn brings us back to the bottom line, that at the end of the day, it is our relationship with God that holds us fast in all our trials, nothing else! Our difficult circumstances are serving as an opportunity to show us the uplifting power of praise so the problems of life cannot drag us down!

We must demonstrate by our lips and our lives that God is Sovereign!

* How have you discovered the freedom from pain in praise?