When You Don’t Feel Like It

There are many things we must do in life even if we don’t feel like it.  This fact is from childhood to being an adult.  We must go to school even if we don’t feel like it.  We must go to work even if we don’t feel like it.  We must do our homework, write that work report, and prepare that presentation even if we don’t feel like it. The results of any of the above is positive when we do what we don’t feel like.  We get that diploma and get a good work appraisal when we do what we don’t feel like doing.

In relationships, it is always the better decision to be nice even if we don’t feel like it. To go ahead and smile, even be helpful to the irritating neighbor is better for your own self rather than engaging in argument.  Showing thoughtfulness to a family member maintains peace in the home.  Making the choice to show positive, helpful, and kind behavior is more conducive to peace.  The opposite brings calm to no one.

In our personal, spiritual worlds, the same is true. Difficult things happen to us all.  We all experience grief and tears.  We probably all know what it’s like to be misunderstood or to be treated unfairly.  We have a choice — we could fight back or withdraw.  Perhaps we even decide to quit talking to God.  These choices result in deeper despair and gloominess.  We’ve probably all experienced that, too.  So, what is the best choice to make, even when we don’t feel like it?  Praise.

It’s a wonderful feeling when all is right in our personal worlds.  We can praise the Lord loudly and joyfully, but what about when our personal worlds are filled with pain and hard  times? It’s especially important to praise the Lord during those times, because praising keeps us focused on the One Who can come to our rescue.  We can’t, but He can is a motto of praise to keep in our daily thoughts.  Praising when we don’t feel like it keeps our minds filled with hope rather than despair. Praise is the best medicine to maintain peace in any storm.  To choose to praise is an instruction from God’s Word that lifts us from our pain and also brings joy to our Heavenly Father.  

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithfulness endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise Him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

Psalm 106:1-3

To choose to praise is an investment in our personal worlds that promises dividends of peace, joy, and strength no matter the agony of the storm.