“I was sure by now, God you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
Stepped in and saved the day.”
It is such a powerful emotion that emanates from this song. No matter the time of day that this song “Praise You in This Storm” (written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms, recorded by Casting Crowns) is played, the same kind of feeling resonates from the lyrics and echoes through my being.
The first time I heard it was during a practice for the Church’s anniversary several years ago. The moment the lyrics were emotionally sung, I immediately wondered about the life’s situation of the songwriters during the time it was written. I sensed the anguish but beyond that I felt the deep faith for “the God who gives and takes away”, the same God who “raises one when there’s not enough strength to carry on.”
And so, I ask myself, do I have now the same faith that is blatantly displayed in this song amidst the recently announced pandemic Coronavirus disease or popularly known as COVID-19? Or better yet, let me ask you, “As the thunder rolls, though the rain, can you still hear His whisper that He is with you?”
The scare for COVID-19 is real and felt all around the world and it is during this “storm” that once again our faith is being tested. We are all reminded that though this virus and the possibility to cause a humongous strain to all nations, there exists a God whose name is Jesus! He has a plan and purpose in everything that He does in our lives and there is no better way to understand God than praise Him! Praising God allows you to be engulfed in His presence and directly lifts all your “storms” to Him believing that everything will soon pass.
I was astounded by this song as I recalled the story of Paul and Silas in the Book of Acts 16. In Acts 16:25-26 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoner heard them. And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s band were loosed”. The dimension of the message speaks loudly to meditate with. Praising God is powerful.
The significant relation of the story to our present situation is that human frailty is always seen when the eye of the storm glares intensely to us. We think we are deserted and defenseless, but we are not. The overflowing and constant praises from our lips and hearts will always be our vanguards to defeat every storm. Like what Paul and Silas did. When you thought life is nothing but imprisonment, God will take you out of the dungeon. Praise Him not tomorrow, but today, always! Remember God is the Master Creator; therefore, He can calm your storm.
Now, amidst the COVID-19 scare, is your heart still torn?”
If so, then continue to “praise God in this storm!”
