When Life is Lifing, God not only invites us to be still, but God invites us to recognize God’s God-ness. That moment should result in a shift in our trajectory (i.e., our path or our focus) as believers. For, knowing God also leads us to a place of praise. We can learn more as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Psalms 46:10 NIV
[10] He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Exalting God in Trials
In English, we know that to exalt is to praise and speak highly of, or place in a high rank or position. With that definition, therefore, we see that in those desperate, desolate moments, God anticipates that God will be praised by the masses. Many of us have seen it happen when nations literally call for intercession in the face of disasters, or – as seems to be popular in some countries now – they establish prayer breakfasts at the start of a year. Some argue that those are form without substance, and they are perhaps very correct in that assumption. But, in those moments when the nations – those in power alongside opposition leaders – acknowledge the Lord as a Higher Power than themselves, they are actually exalting God.
Deeper Dive
Many Pharisees challenged Y’shua’s claim to divinity in the Gospels. For them, He didn’t fit their expectations of a Messiah, most certainly not theirs. Yet, in John 3, there’s a Pharisee who discovered something more about Y’shua. For whatever reason, fear or busyness, he sought Y’shua’s presence at night, aiming was to discern for himself Y’shua’s identity. In spite of their intense conversation, Nicodemus (the Pharisee) did not become a convert at that moment. Later, he not only defended Jesus to his peers (see John 7:50-51), he also publicly assisted in Y’shua’s burial (see John 19:39-42). Moreover, Nicodemus is believed to be the author of an extra-biblical book called Acts of Pilate. This book did not get recognized as part of the Bible, but it testified of the impact Y’shua had on Nicodemus’ faith.
Nicodemus was one of many. There was also Jairus, a synagogue leader, who desperately sought Y’shua when his daughter was dying. He might have sought other folks, but Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8 all state that in desperation, as his only child lay dying, Jairus sought Jesus’ help. No one can forget Saul of Tarsus, whom we more commonly refer to as the Apostle Paul. His exaltation of Y’shua brought the good news of salvation to the Gentiles. That act led to Constantine’s partiality to Christianity after his conversion in 312 C.E. Subsequently, it became the state religion throughout the Roman Empire.
Sometimes we find that our response to distress becomes someone else’s witness. Our actions often speak louder than words. Holding on to our faith, choosing to cling to Y’shua, when the world says ‘curse God and die!’, may be the point of exaltation that helps another to put God first.
It doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to injustice, our that we seem to exult in another’s misfortune (like Job’s friends seemed to do when they couldn’t find the right words). Sometimes, we offer a better testimony by being silent, lifting God’s grace up in our presence.
Ultimately, our knowledge of God that fuels praise in our moments of distress can truly create the space for nations to discover God for themselves.
Self-Check
How has our response to God in our trials been encouragement to others.
Point to Ponder
With our knowledge of God, how can we be a point of prayer for someone in need of God’s intervention?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
