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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.
Daily Devotion

Praise: Important but Not Always Easy

Rejoicing in times of trial keeps us focused on the Lord and His good purpose.

August 4, 2025

Matthew 5:10-12

God’s commands sometimes defy human logic. In today’s passage, for example, He said we’re to rejoice in persecution. That doesn’t make sense until we realize the effect of praise: It keeps us focused on Him and the good things He can bring out of hardship.

The apostle Paul faced greater abuse and suffering than most of us ever will. He was beaten, put on trial, and imprisoned, yet he looked beyond those difficulties to what the Lord was accomplishing through his life.

If we believe God is in control and keeps His promises, then we must trust in the principle of Romans 5:3-5. This passage assures us that our hardships have a purpose. Specifically, they develop our endurance, strengthen our character, and solidify our hope. We’re able to rejoice because we are maturing believers whom God can use for His purposes.

The Lord will bring good from our times of adversity, just as He did for Paul. We all experience times of doubt, but if we allow it to linger, we will struggle to praise what God is doing in and through our life. And if we can’t rejoice, we are in danger of giving up before the Lord’s good work can be completed. Rejoicing keeps us focused on Him and His purpose so we may see our trial through to the end and receive our reward. 

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