In the summer of 2019, I read the devotional 31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew by Ruth Myers. The book reminded me of the many positive reasons to praise God. However, I was also challenged by the author’s exhortations to praise God for the difficult circumstances or trials I experienced. I investigated the Scriptures that instructed so and agreed with her interpretation. But I told God I wasn’t ready for that yet. And so we left it.
Fast-forward to the beginning effects of the COVID pandemic in my life. In a now common story, I waited anxiously for the first report of community transmission in my city. I stressed over the daily changes in my university’s response to the growing crisis. I worried about a million “what if” scenarios when the shelter-in-place went into effect.
My anxiety was heightened by a personal circumstance: I was pregnant. That put me in a high-risk category for COVID-19. In addition, not knowing what things would be like in a month when the baby arrived was driving me crazy.
At the same time, I began re-reading the 31 Days of Praise devotional (with the kind of timing that hindsight shows must have been God’s prompting). Praising God for his attributes helped me to focus on Him and gave temporary relief of my anxiety.
But I was confronted again with the exhortation to praise God for difficult circumstances and trials. I did not immediately obey. First, I tried to convince myself that the situation “was not so bad.” Then I tried to take joy and peace in the blessings I do have.
But I was confronted still with the exhortation to praise God for difficult circumstances and trials.
And so, on a rare morning when my 2-year old toddler slept in, I sat with God and faced 1 Peter 1:3-7 and James 1:2-4 (quoted in part above). This time—with a humbled heart, brought to my knees—I surrendered and told God, “I’m ready for that test now.”
The next morning I started my devotion time with praise to God for these difficult times. Through these circumstances, God is at work. Personally, He is growing and deepening my faith, “conform[ing me] to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29). God has given me rest from my anxiety.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us give God praise for our “light momentary affliction” because one day we will experience a glory “beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17). I pray that in this test, we will all find our faith proven genuine.
Heather DeBruhl
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo