I was sitting in a worship service recently. My thoughts went back to the words of a song the congregation had just sung. The song was about raising hallelujahs up to God.
Of course, I was suppose to be listening to the message the pastor was preaching at that moment. But I continued following the thoughts that were running through my mind about the song. And I asked myself a question instead of listening to the sermon.
The definition of the word hallelujah is “a joyous praise in song, to boast in God.” It literally translates to “praise the Lord.”
My question was this: Can I still raise hallelujahs in the hard times of trial I go through in this life as a follower of Jesus Christ? Can I really express praises to him whether I’m on the mountaintops or in the valleys of life?
I had just asked myself a serious question and I felt compelled to answer it. So, my thoughts continued on to the past and a few of the tough times I’ve experienced.
When my dad was killed in a car accident, I was 36 years old. Except for my grandparents, I had not yet experienced losing someone who was close to me.
How it happened was that my dad had dropped my mother off at her job. It was a foggy morning and as Dad was on his way back home, he stopped at an intersection. Another driver went through the intersection full speed, without stopping, and hit my dad broadside. My dad died right there.
Did I raise hallelujahs to God? Answer. No, not for a few months. But I sure tried to. I realized people were watching to see how this Christian counselor was going to handle the tragic result of someone’s carelessness.
Was I going to permit this hardship to make me bitter at God? No. I chose to allow the Holy Spirit to be my strength in my times of weakness and to walk ever closer to Jesus. My hope was that those watching could see this and that it would make a positive impact on them for the cause of Christ and the kingdom.
How good of a job did I do? Could those around hear me raising hallelujahs to God in the midst of such sorrow and grief? Were they going to see me crash, throw up my hands and curse the God I love, serve and follow? I don’t know how well I did. But, someday, whether here on earth or in heaven, I believe God will reveal this to me.
My thoughts went on to the years I experienced with my mother when she had breast cancer. The illness had begun there, but spread to several other areas of her body as well. We kids were told by her doctor that she had probably already had it 10 years before it was found.
I remember, at the time, I had just been on the staff of a counseling firm here in Columbus for two years when she passed. Like with my dad, this was a tough one.
These two deaths were tough ones and they were lived one moment at a time. I had to totally rely on the strength the Holy Spirit provided, moment by moment, day by day, month after month. Did I raise hallelujahs up to God? I sure tried. How good of a job did I do? I don’t know. All I know is that I tried.
Then, there was the trial of delivering our first daughter, stillborn. This one, of all the trials and tough periods in my life, has had the greatest impact on me. I’m not sure how good of a job I did of raising hallelujahs up to God in the midst of my overwhelming grief, but I remember trying to in my head.
I know, though, it took a long while for my heart to follow.
Revelation 19:6 reads, “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.’”
Sometimes, life for those of us who are followers of Jesus is just as hard as it is for those who do not profess a relationship with him. God has never told us that it would not be. However, what he has said is that he would be with us to strengthen and guide us no matter what — every moment of every day.
How good of a job have I done of raising hallelujahs up to God throughout the various hardships in my life? I don’t know the answer to this question for sure, but I do know that I want to try my best with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of me.
Now, what about you? Can you raise up hallelujahs to God?
Nita Evans of Columbus is owner of Confidential Christian Counseling, focusing her work especially with ministry leaders and their families. She also is a Columbus Police Department chaplain and a national retreat and conference speaker. Her devotional book, “Legacy of Faith: Walking With Jesus Come What May” is now available at facebook.com/speacialspeaker to benefit the local Clarity. She can be reached at 812-614-7838 or by visiting specialspeaker.com.
