There's a Story Behind the Praise
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Remembering God's faithfulness on the roads we never expected to travel.
There were seasons when I would get in my car and drive down country roads just to cry out to God.
Sometimes the tears came quietly. Other times, I literally wailed.
There were days when my heart was so heavy I didn't even know what to pray. So I just cried out to Jesus.
Those roads heard a lot of prayers.
Prayers through tears. Prayers filled with questions. Prayers when I couldn't see how things would ever change.
And sometimes, all I could do was worship.
Remembering the Goodness of God
I remember driving those country roads, listening to "Goodness of God" by Bethel Music.
And I would sing.
Sometimes through tears. Sometimes while literally crying out to God.
But as I sang about His goodness, I wasn't just thinking about what I was praying and believing Him to do.
I was remembering all the times He had already been so good to me and my family.
All the prayers He had answered.
All the ways He had provided.
All the times He had made a way when there seemed to be no way.
All the moments when His faithfulness had carried us through.
I had so much to remember.
And even though I couldn't see what was around the next curve in the road, I could look back and remember the goodness of God.
I knew He had been faithful before.
And I knew He was still faithful.
Not just when things turned around or when prayers were answered.
He was faithful right there in the middle of it all.
That's what made those moments of worship so powerful.
My circumstances were difficult, but my memories were filled with reminders of His goodness.
And I could praise Him for who He had always been, even while believing Him for what was still ahead.
Some Roads Are Prayed Through in Tears
Looking at this photograph of a country road, I remember so much more than the scenery.
I remember the tears.
I remember the prayers.
I remember the moments when I didn't know how I would make it another day.
But most of all, I remember His faithfulness.
I've learned that sometimes the loudest praise comes from the places where we've cried the hardest.
Because when you know what God has brought you through, your praise sounds a little different.
It carries a story.
A story of prayers whispered through tears. Of trusting when you couldn't see. Of holding on to God's promises.
And of remembering His goodness even when the road ahead was uncertain.
The Golden Thread of His Faithfulness
When I look back over my life, I can see something beautiful.
The faithfulness of God woven like a golden thread through every chapter of my family's story.
Through the joyful moments.
Through the unexpected blessings.
Through the prayers that were answered.
And even through the chapters I never would have chosen.
There were moments when I couldn't see what God was doing. Moments when the road ahead seemed impossible.
But His goodness was still there.
God's faithfulness wasn't something that began when things got better. It had been woven through our story all along.
And remembering that gave me strength to keep trusting Him.
When You Can't See What's Ahead, Remember What He's Done
There is something powerful about remembering.
In Psalm 77:11, the psalmist declares:
"But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." (NLT)
I love that.
Sometimes, when we're walking through difficult circumstances, we become so focused on what's happening right in front of us that we forget to look back.
Not to dwell on the pain or relive every difficult moment, but to remember the faithfulness of God.
To remember the prayers He's answered.
The doors He's opened.
The ways He's provided.
The times He's brought us through circumstances we didn't know how we'd survive.
Those memories become reminders of who He is.
The same God who was faithful yesterday is faithful today.
And when we remember His goodness, it strengthens our faith for whatever lies ahead.
Maybe You're on One of Those Roads Right Now
Maybe you're in a season where the tears come more easily than the words.
Maybe you're praying for something you've been believing God for a long time.
Maybe you're wondering when things will change.
I want to encourage you today.
Remember His goodness.
Think back over your life and the times God has been faithful to you.
Remember the prayers He has answered.
Remember the moments when His peace carried you through.
Remember the ways He has provided, protected, healed, restored, and made a way.
And if you're finding it difficult to see His goodness in your present circumstances, don't forget what He's already done.
Keep holding on to Jesus.
He sees you. He hears you. And He is faithful, even in the middle of the hardest chapters.
You don't have to know what is around the next curve in the road.
You can trust the One who does.
There's a Story Behind the Praise
When I look back on those country roads, I don't just remember the tears.
I remember the worship.
I remember singing about the goodness of God while reminding myself of every way He had already been faithful to my family.
And I remember that even in the hardest moments, He was there.
That's why I believe our stories are so important.
Sometimes people hear our praise without knowing the prayers that came before it.
They see the joy without knowing the tears.
They hear the testimony without knowing all the moments of trusting God along the way.
But there is a story behind the praise.
And those stories matter.
Psalm 107:2 says:
"Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies." (NLT)
Don't stop telling what God has done.
Your story may be the very encouragement someone else needs to keep holding on.
Somebody needs to hear about His goodness.
Somebody needs to hear about His faithfulness.
Somebody needs to know that He is still at work, even when they can't see what lies ahead.
So remember His goodness.
Keep trusting His heart.
And never stop telling the story.
There's a story behind the praise.
Tell the story. ❤️
A Little Encouragement for Today
Take a few minutes today to remember the goodness of God in your own life.
What prayers has He answered? How has He provided for you? When has His faithfulness carried you through a difficult season?
Write those moments down. Share them with your family. Tell someone what God has done.
And the next time you find yourself on a difficult road, remember:
You may not know what lies around the next curve, but you can remember the faithfulness of the One who is leading you.
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