She won’t change. He is stuck in his ways. This is impossible. I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried. Things won’t budge. What is happening?!??!
The struggle can wear on us. We’ve been praying. We’ve been pushing through with everything we’ve got. We’ve grown tired, weary, and we might just fall apart at any given point. In these moments of silent hopelessness, I’m reminded of this song by Hillsong United, “Even When It Hurts”:
Even when my strength is lost, I'll praise You.
Even when I have no song, I'll praise You.
Even when it's hard to find the words,
Louder then I'll sing Your praise, I will only sing Your praise.
Take this mountain weight, Take these ocean tears.
Hold me through the trial, Come like hope again.
Even when the fight seems lost, I'll praise You.
Even when it hurts like hell, I'll praise You.
Even when it makes no sense to sing,
Louder then I'll sing Your praise, I will only sing Your praise
It might not be about trying harder or wishing the other person would just “get it” and change. It may be time to simply surrender and lift up a song of praise.
Acts 16:25 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God as the other prisoners listened. . .”
What happened before this?
Acts 16:22-24, “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
They were stripped, beaten, and severely flogged before being thrown into the jail cell. If that was me, I would have laid there crying in anguish. Paul and Silas likely released tears and groans, AND they prayed and sang songs to the Lord while in their agony, desperation, and exhaustion.
What happened after?
Acts 16:26, “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”
Stop trying. Start praying and praising the Lord until the foundations of your prison are shaken and your chains become loose. Keep praising until your “Suddenly”!
Dear God, I am so tired. I pray that you strengthen me. Even when it hurts, even when it seems impossible, even when I have no more left to give, I will praise you! I will sing and pray until the miracle comes. Amen.
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