Talking God up when life is looking down

Do you have fair-weather friends? A fair-weather friend is someone who is always close when the sun is shining in your life. When your finances are steady, your health is strong, your family is doing well and your plans are working out, they are quick to call, text, visit and celebrate with you. But when the weather changes, sometimes their friendship changes, too. When sickness comes, money gets tight, family problems arise or life begins to feel heavy, the same people who once stood near may suddenly become hard to find.

Life is full of ups and downs. We enjoy the ups, but we struggle with the downs. We love the seasons when everything is coming together, but we often become discouraged when things begin to fall apart.

The real question is not whether life will have difficult moments. The real question is, will we still talk God up when life is looking down? Will we still say God is good when the weather changes? Will we still praise Him when the road gets rough, the days get dark, and the answers do not come as quickly as we hoped?

Job teaches us how to handle life when it is looking down. Job was blessed, respected and highly favored. He had family, wealth, health and a good name. But in a short period of time, everything changed. He lost his possessions, his children, his health and much of his comfort.
His friends came to visit him, but instead of lifting him, they accused him. They assumed that his suffering had to be the result of some hidden sin.

But Job knew something deeper. He understood that sorrow and joy, sunshine and rain, gain and loss are all part of life’s journey. Job did not pretend that his pain was easy. He did not act like his losses were small. Yet, in the middle of his suffering, he still declared, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

That is faith talking God up when life is looking down. That is worship that does not depend on good weather. That is praise that can survive the storm.

When times are tough, we must talk God up. Trouble does not skip over us just because we are believers. Christians face sickness, grief, disappointment, financial pressure, family strain and personal battles. But we do not face them as people without hope.

The faithful know that trouble does not last always. We may feel the rain, but we still trust the God who controls the storm. We may see the clouds, but we still believe the sun has not disappeared forever. We may walk through hard places, but we know God is walking with us.

When the reports are bad, we must talk God up. A doctor’s report can make life look down. A job loss can make life look down. A low bank account can make life look down. A broken relationship can make life look down.

But faith refuses to let the report have the final word. Faith says, “God is still able.” He is able to heal, able to provide, able to restore, able to strengthen, and able to make a way where there seems to be no way. We do not deny the reality of trouble, but we declare the greater reality of God’s power.

When life is looking down, we must keep looking up. David said, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” That means our help is not limited to what we can see, what we can afford or what people can do for us. Our help comes from the Lord.

That is why we can have peace in the middle of problems, calm in the middle of crisis, gladness in the middle of sorrow and assurance in the middle of affliction.

Somebody reading this may feel like life is looking down right now. You may be tired, worried, disappointed or discouraged. But do not stop talking God up. Praise Him in the storm. Trust Him in the valley. Call on Him in the darkness. Keep speaking faith while you are waiting on the answer.

There may be sorrow around you, but God still brings joy. There may be conflict around you, but God still gives courage. There may be weakness around you, but God still gives strength. Storm clouds may gather, but the same God who speaks to the wind and waves is still in control.

We talk God up because Jesus got up. When they nailed Him to the cross, life looked down. When they placed Him in the tomb, hope looked down. When His disciples scattered in fear, the future looked down.

But early Sunday morning, He rose with all power in His hands. Because He got up, He can pick us up. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Because He reigns, we can keep praising.

So, even when life is looking down, keep talking God up. God is still good. God is still faithful. God is still able. God is still worthy. And no matter how dark the day may become, the believer can stand firm and say, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”