A Sacrifice by Katelyn Skaggs
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
Hot tears rolled down my face as I could hear my heart shatter into pieces. Life had thrown me something that I was not expecting. It wasn’t your every day, run of the mill, hard day. I was in the middle of something that you normally hear other people going through, but you don’t expect it to happen to you. I had come extremely close to losing one of the nearest and dearest people in my life. I had seen the wreckage that mental health can have on a person and what happens when people jump off the proverbial edge.
I remember being numb as my husband drove me to the hospital to be with my loved one after some life shattering turn of events. This event had been the hardest thing I had endured to that date. As we made the 30-minute drive to the hospital, I remember speaking out loud to my husband…processing. I was trying to wrap my head around an event that I couldn’t wrap my head around. Yet, in the processing I remember hearing myself say to my husband, “This is bad. This is terrible and the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. No matter how bad this is, I know God is still good. God is so good and I know He loves me”.
I love how the Spirit will comfort us in our pain and will fill our mouths when we don’t know what to say. He can fill our mouth with praise in the midst of pain. In these times, the Lord teaches us lessons that are branded into our minds. While in the car and in the days following, the Lord was teaching me what it meant to be a living sacrifice and what a sacrifice of praise looked like. As I spent time with my loved one while they recovered in the hospital, I would find myself going off to break down alone. Many tears were shed in that season, but the Lord gave me eyes to see His goodness and filled my mouth with worship.
Friend, no matter how bad or hard a situation is, He is still worthy. Situations may be bad, but He is still good. Worship shouldn’t be contingent on our circumstances: life is hard, but God is still good and worthy of worship when it’s hard. We are to live our lives as living sacrifices, for He is worthy of that. Remember this point though: sacrifices are made to be burned. Living a life of worship that glorifies God will get hot sometimes. A sacrifice of praise is a sacrifice because we normally give that praise through hot tears and sobs. It’s a worship that includes lifting our hands when we can’t lift our head. This kind of worship, this kind of life is a sacrifice for sure, but it’s a sacrifice our good God is worthy of.
Prayer:
Lord, please help me when life gets hard or the unthinkable happens and when I don’t have the words or strength on my own to praise you anyway. You are good and are worthy of my life, my worship and my devotion. In Jesus name, Amen.
Dive Deeper: Read Romans 12:1 and Psalms 141: 2
Discussion Questions:
Reflect on your latest hard day: was there more worry or worship in that day?
What are practical steps that can help position your heart to worship God when it’s hard?
About Katelyn Skaggs
Women’s Ministry Director & Stay at Home Mom
I'm a Jesus girl and a Bible nerd. I'm a proud wife of nearly 8 years and a momma to two amazing kids. I serve as our church's Women's Ministry director in Bardstown, KY. Helping women mature in the faith drives me. I love teaching, being in community, good coffee and adventures. I'm a plant lover who doesn't have a green thumb. I'm a recovering perfectionist who is on the journey to embrace grace.
