How can you praise God when you are going through a difficult time?

Consider what happened to Paul and Silas when they were thrown into the dungeon [Acts 16:16-40]. If you were ever imprisoned during their time, the dungeon was the most deplorable place to be since it was filthy and filled with human waste. Yet Luke told us,

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16:25 (NKJV)

Paul and Silas were not feeling troubled or distressed. They were instead praying and singing hymns. The hymns they sang came from the Psalms, specifically Psalms 113-118. These Psalms were songs of praise and deliverance that were frequently sung during the Feast of the Passover Lamb. In other words, they were focused on Christ rather than their circumstances.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances. It is important to understand the distinction between praising God “in” your trial and thanking God “for” your trial. Under no circumstance does Paul instruct us to thank God “for” trials. This would imply that we should praise God for every disaster, crisis, and illness. If we did, we would be claiming that God is the author of our problems. If He is, then we can sue God for child abuse!

Thanking God in your situation brings God into the picture. God will undoubtedly hear you at your midnight hour, when all appears to be lost. Years later, Paul sent a beautiful letter to the Philippians. In it, he made a crucial revelation:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

"Be anxious for nothing" basically means "don't panic over anything." God will not fail you. Simply continue to praise Him and tell Him what's on your mind, and He will see you through because He loves you.