We hold a deficient view of God if we limit our praise of him only to those times when life is going well. We also hold a deficient view of him if “the good life” (the comfortable, worldly life) is our primary reason for praise.

God’s love transcends anything this world offers, good or bad. When we know this, we have inextinguishable reason to praise, regardless of our experience and lot. Even in life’s most heinous and unhappy moments, his love has the power to get us out of bed and face the day with his name on our lips. Praise may be uttered in frailty and filtered through tears; it may not be characterised by strenuous leaps of joy. But in those times, his love allows small steps to be big wins and weak words to be powerful testimonies.

This is a recurring theme in Scripture. For example:

• “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be praised.” – Job 1:21
• “I’ve learned the secret of being content whatever the situation.” – Philippians 4:12
• “…nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:39

God’s love is absolutely greater than life, yet he issues life out of his love. Let us praise him with our lips, not because of the things we may or may not have in this world, but because of the love he has that transcends this world and leads us to life eternal with him.