“How gracious He will be when you cry for help!  As soon as He hears, He will answer you.  Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.”  Isaiah 30:19-20

What is the purpose behind God’s praiseworthy deeds?

The easy answer is that they bring Him glory, but something doesn’t seem quite right in that analysis.  Yes, they highlight what an awesome God we have, but let’s slow down and think about that…

With God as the Creator of the universe, the Maker of all that is in it, the Owner of time and space and every thing, the Designer of every detail known and unknown to man, does He really need more glory and praise from us?  Glory is defined as “very great praise, honor or distinction…adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving…resplendent beauty or magnificence…the splendor or bless of heaven.” See Glory.  All of nature that we see, hear and experience already boasts of His glory.  And when we think of boasting, God is so very clear that pride creates a lot of issues for mankind.  Rather, He emphasizes that we have humility with broken and contrite hearts when we come to Him.  To believe that God does things to gain our praise seems a bit counter intuitive to His instructions.  And since He leads by example, such self-promoting actions would go against His very character.  So let’s ask again:

What is the purpose behind God’s praiseworthy deeds?

Is it possible that they are designed to actually help us focus on His invisible Presence in this world?  Could these very deeds that He does–daily and in every minute–be beneficial not only to those receiving them but also faith building to those willing to see His movement in this world?  Maybe they are less about the glory that is already in Him and more about helping us to see His Presence in real time in our lives and in the lives of those around us…

Remember, praiseworthy deeds of God are often accomplished in ways that allow us to participate in His work in our world.  He often moves hearts to help in just the right way, in the perfect timing, and in a location that another soul just happens to be at.  So often, we hear of the unexpected happening in a way that indicates a greater plan was being worked out.  The right thing at the right time in the right way and for the right reasons with God at the helm and others as His hands.

When I see God’s hand move through lives, it is typically through things that I had no way of knowing, things I did not anticipate, nor was I aware of.  I stand there, a bit baffled and in awe, understanding that I was just a tiny, tiny part of a bigger plan that God was clearly aware of even though I was not.

For example, when I asked a mom if she had any prayer requests, she asked if we knew of anyone getting rid of a couch.  I paused and smiled, “Occasionally someone will contact us.  I can keep it in prayer for you if you’d like.”  She nodded.  Her mother went on to reveal that it was where this mom slept at night and her “bed” was literally falling apart.  Within a couple of weeks, sure enough, an email arrived asking if we knew of anyone in need of a couch.  I sat there looking at the screen in wonder at just how He does all of this.  Sure enough, that mom has a “new” couch to sleep on…an answer to her heart’s prayer and ours as well as an answer to the desire of another soul to help someone with the blessings they no longer needed.

A couple of years ago, during Christmas, one of our steadfast builders built a beautiful basket for a senior.  That Easter, this woman visited us.  Another volunteer pulled me aside and said, “This gal would like to share something with you.”  As she began her story, her hand continually held onto a beautiful necklace she was wearing.

All of her life, she had been in poverty.  She worked hard, but always struggled.  At some point, she had wished and longed for a beautiful necklace that was well beyond her ability to afford.  Feeling that it was an inappropriate request of anyone, she never told any soul about her longing and accepted that it was not within her reach.

That year, unbeknownst to the volunteer building the basket, the builder came across a beautiful necklace in our donated jewelry bin.  She wrapped it up as a gift and placed it inside the basket, believing it might be something nice to receive.  Having already received a small gift through our adoption program, this senior was very surprised to find another present in her basket.

As she began to open it, she could scarcely believe her eyes.  It was the necklace she had always longed for.  The very necklace she had told no one about.  There were tears in her eyes as she smiled and nodded her head.  We both knew Who knew of that longing and Who had arranged for her to receive it.  It wasn’t the volunteer nor us nor her as she never listed it on her application.  It was God.  And do you know what?  That gal, who wasn’t really sure about God, asked us the following Christmas for a cross.  I knew He had reassured her not only how present He was but how much He knew everything about her…

It’s in the little details of life that we have no way of knowing that the hand of God becomes most visible to those willing to see, hear and believe.  It is in the movement of His works, His deeds and His timing that praise disconnects from our realm and brings us into His.  It is in moments like that where I walk away deeply humbled at catching a glimpse of His work in another life, another soul and another moment.  Those glimpses, those views build up, shore up, tend to, and strengthen my faith and trust in God.

I believe that is why the Psalmist of Psalm 78 instructs us early on to visit and speak of often His praiseworthy deeds.  Not just to praise God, but to understand and learn to trust more that He is actively working in our world.  It doesn’t mean that we always get the necklace we want when we want, but rather, those moments illustrate that He is trustworthy, praiseworthy and willing to come to our aid.

These good deeds are the antidote to fear’s call to believe that He is inactive, unwilling or unable to move to our benefit.  His deeds are exactly what we need to shield our minds and faith from the effects of unbelief and doubt.  They can quell anxiety’s fight for despair, push away depression with hope that He is at work, and undo loneliness with the reassurance that we are never really alone (even when we keep our thoughts and wishes to ourselves).

Understand that God is not some raging ego-maniac that wants constant praise. No, He just wants you to trust Him with all that you are and wherever you may be.  Focus on the praiseworthy deeds that you have seen Him do and on the ones you have heard others tell of.  Let that become one of the walls that shores up your faith and trust when you are feeling unsure or afraid.  Let those deeds become a part of the refuge you seek out when fear in this life comes knocking on your door.

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.  One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts.  They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty–and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.”  Psalm 145:3-5