Reactions

How do you react when things go wrong? What are your thoughts when you have an illness? How do you feel when you can’t pay your bills? How do you react when something great happens? What do you think when an unexpected windfall happens?

Our feelings and reactions can go from one extreme to the other, depending on the situation. When things are not going well, we can be in the dumps, looking to blame someone, and maybe blame God. When things are going great, we enjoy it and like to take credit for it.

But how should we react? James tells us how. When things are not going well, when we are sick, when we are struggling, when it seems the whole world is against us, we should pray. Telling God how we are feeling, asking why, asking him to step in, and even venting to God should be our reaction. God knows what we are going through, but he wants us to talk to him.

When things are moving along well, when we have plenty of money, when we are in love, when everything seems to fall in place, we should sing praises to God. Rather than taking credit for our good fortunes, we are to praise God for his blessings. After all, every good thing we have and every good thing that happens to us is from God.

It is easy for us to say how we should react. It is harder to do so in both types of situations. When we are down in the dumps, we often don’t look up. We merely keep trying harder and sometimes continue to dig the hole deeper. When everything is going well, our pride takes over and we take credit for it. We must remember that God is always at work in our lives, and he never leaves us.

I pray we all spend time in prayer. I pray we take time to sing praises to God. I pray each one of us knows God is always with us, always working in our lives, and always wants to hear from us. Spend time in prayer. Sing God’s praises. Know God is always with you. Know God is always working. Know God will listen to you.

James 5:13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.