Mysty Pfeffer“Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.”
Psalm 147:1
A sweet testimony of true pride is the faith of the elderly.
I admire the sheer tenacity of the lady in front of me standing on trembling limbs to sing praises to our God. Witnessing an arthritic hand raised in humble adoration stirs my heart. Worship is as close to her heart as breath. Those shaky legs hold her up for every hymn. She is taking delight in the meeting place.
Joy is present, in spite of a spine unnaturally curved, due to degenerative disc disease. Pain appears to be forgotten as the glory of praise abounds in her very stance. She refuses to sit for even a moment, as the worship session extends.
I see confidence in the hope of a better place in her determination. She will not allow physical weakness to hinder her praise time. She obtains victory in receiving the grace to endure. Life hasn’t been perfect, and perhaps extremely trying. However, the hope is clear, her faith in Jesus Christ has brought her through the struggle. Paul puts it this way in Romans:
“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has given it to us. (Holman Christian Standard Bible, Romans 5:1-5 ).
Hope emanates from the shaky voice meeting each note of praise with heartfelt joy. It is grace that enables her trembling legs to withstand the hour long praise service. Flourishing strength in the presence of affliction is a site to behold in her small stature.
She has confidence, knowing, this shadow of a body, and all it’s complications, will give way some day. Her joy among believers will join the the souls that never die as she looks forward to being welcomed into glory.
Taking pride, for eternity, in glorifying the One who saves.
