The world can feel pretty dark at times. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a strained relationship, or simply a bad day at work, there always seems to be something threatening to steal our joy. If I am to be completely honest, I have not done a great job of believing that the joy of the Lord is my strength lately (Ps. 28:7). I’ve let my circumstances and emotions dictate my thoughts and actions, which has clouded my judgment and left me feeling overwhelmed by the darkness of the world.
But today as I drove into work, these lyrics struck my heart:
"So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is yours"
–Joel Houston
Upon hearing these lyrics, a phrase flashed through my mind: Praise through. Praise through the pain. Praise through the fear. Praise through the discomfort. Praise through the darkness. God tells us that darkness can never extinguish light (John 1:5). In fact, He promises us good things in the darkness!
“And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.”
-Isaiah 45:3 (NLT)
Therefore, we can lift our hands in praise, trusting that He is both good and sovereign. If you feel unable to lift your hands in this season, call on friends and family. Just as Aaron and Hur lifted the arms of Moses when he no longer had the strength, we are meant to lift one another up (Ex.17:12). Together we can press into what feels painful or uncomfortable to find the treasures He has hidden for us and begin to live in the joy we were created for.
Kira Echeandia
Kira is a recent transplant to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area who is passionate about Jesus, social justice, and baked goods. She loves to travel, and can be found in Belgium consuming copious amounts of chocolate about once a year. Her dream is to start a business that incorporates both intentional community and sustainable consumerism, but is still praying about what this could look like. Kira is both thrilled and honored to write for Daughter of Delight in this season, and looks forward to seeing where her passion for writing will take her.
Kira Echeandia