Why do we only praise God when we’re smack dab in the light of grace and blessings? When prayers are answered, bills are paid, the kids behave (for five whole minutes), and the coffee doesn’t spill on the way to church—it’s easy to belt out, “God is good!”

But when life slams us against the wall? When the job falls through, the diagnosis shatters us, or grief crawls in and sits heavy on our chest—we suddenly go quiet. We sit in the shadows picking at our scabs, whispering, “Where are You, God?”

And let’s be real: it’s safe to say we’ve all been there.

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We’re Not Alone in This

Job was there—stripped of family, wealth, health—and still said, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Paul and Silas were there—beaten, chained, sitting in a dank prison—and still lifted songs that shook the walls.
David was there too—writing psalms from caves, reminding his own soul, “I will bless the Lord at all times.”

They didn’t wait for perfect circumstances. They praised in the shadows.

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What About Us?

If we’re honest, we sometimes treat God like a vending machine: blessings in, praises out. But the moment our order doesn’t drop, we start shaking the machine, doubting if it’s even plugged in.

The truth? God’s worth doesn’t rise and fall with our circumstances. His goodness isn’t a mood swing. He’s faithful in the spotlight and in the shadows, whether we feel it or not.

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Praise Heals Too

Here’s the kicker: when we praise in adversity, we don’t just honor God—we actually heal. Praise keeps us from reopening wounds with worry and doubt. It shifts us from “Why me?” to “Even here, You are with me.”

Worship in the shadows is where faith grows muscles. It’s where trust becomes more than a Sunday lyric—it becomes our lifeline.

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A Gentle Challenge

So maybe next time the shadows creep in, instead of silence, we lift a shaky hallelujah. Because it’s in those moments—the raw, broken ones—that our worship means the most.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” — Habakkuk 3:17–18

Light may show you God’s blessings, but shadows will show you His presence.

Love, faith, and hugs,

Tina N. Campbell | Scribed in Light