The Psalmist reminds us that God sustains his people - like a sustain pedal on a piano, which keeps a note going even when it should have already stopped. We can praise God even in our storms for being our sustaining strength! Listen here:

The Psalmist tells us that God is a compassionate, caring God, healing the brokenhearted and binding up wounds. Why could Paul and Silas praise God in a prison cell? Because they knew he was caring for them even in their difficult time.  Praise Him today, and know that nobody cares for you like He does!

We only praise what we delight in. Could it be that praising God would give us greater joy in this difficult time?

The early Methodists sang praise in the midst of their storms... Paul and Silas sang  praise in their jail cell... Let's be people who praise our way through the COVID-19 crisis.

Paul's lament in Romans 9 shows his deep concern for those who do not know Jesus. He would have willingly traded his place in God's kingdom if it meant his Jewish friends could come to Jesus.  Let's remember to do all we can to share Christ with those who don't know him!

Many of the laments in the Bible were written when the writer became aware of their sinfulness. Do we still feel the same grief at our sin today? Let's learn a lesson from Hansie Cronje - who began to heal when he lamented his sin.

Christians don't simply lament their own suffering, they lament when anyone suffers... and then they do all they can to help alleviate the suffering they see.

The writer of Lamentations 5 cries out in horror at the things going on in his world. Today, 2500-odd years later, the world looks quite similar. Perhaps today we can lament along with him, as we see the state of things.

The Bible contains many songs of lament. In Western culture today, we often try to bury our feelings, but the Bible writers certainly let their feelings out! Today, know that it's OK to lament the state of things - but direct your lament to God.

Those who delight in God have great assurance: that he delights in them, and watches over them with care and compassion. Do you need this reminder today?