The Levites…stood to their feet to praise God, the God of Israel; they praised at the top of their lungs!—2 Chronicles 20:19 (MSG)

After a harrowing day following the passing of my father the previous morning, our family was exhausted but not defeated. Three extremely important personal items that had belonged to my father were nowhere to be found. Mom, my siblings, and I looked everywhere. Suspecting that one of the items had been stolen, my brother filed a police report. Meanwhile, we were all praying for Jesus to reveal the locations of the missing items. In the course of our collective, repeated, methodical searching, the Lord revealed everything we thought was lost. 

When Mom finally discovered the third missing item in a place where several of us had already looked, we were overcome with relief and joy. Mom spontaneously broke out into a praise march around her coffee table. Simultaneously, my sister and I joined in. Unable to contain our gratitude for answered prayers, we marched with upraised arms, singing at the top of our lungs: “A-men! A-men! A-men! A-men! A-men! Hallelujah!” Over and over, circling round and round, we felt overjoyed, even in the midst of our grief and sorrow, praising Jesus for His awesome goodness and faithfulness. 

Since that day, I now understand what it’s like to be able to rejoice in times of adversity and to praise Jesus in all situations. 

Faith Step: Regardless of your present circumstances, trials, or adversity, stand up, raise your hands, and praise Jesus at the top of your lungs for what He has done or is going to do in your life!