Reflections on How Praise Anchors Us in Hard Times
Life has a way of pushing us off center. You know what I mean. There are seasons when things don’t go as planned, when losses pile up, and when the noise of the world becomes too loud to think straight. Sometimes it’s personal grief. Sometimes it’s pressure. Sometimes we just feel stuck, weary, or spiritually dry. In those times, we can lose our focus. Our perspective becomes cloudy. Our worship dims. We forget who we are, and more importantly, we forget who God is.
That’s one of the reasons I find Psalm 111 so powerful. On the surface, it’s a psalm of praise, but it’s also more than that. It is a path that brings us back to what matters most. When life feels scattered and disoriented, Psalm 111 helps bring clarity. It recenters us. It reminds us who God is and how we are meant to respond to Him.
The psalm begins with a strong and clear call: “Praise the Lord.” That isn’t just a spiritual phrase to fill space. It is a call to action. Psalm 111 is part of a group of “Hallelujah Psalms,” written to call God’s people back to worship, especially after times of hardship or exile. What makes this psalm even more interesting is its structure. It is written as an acrostic poem, where each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This format wasn’t just artistic—it was practical. It helped God’s people remember truth and pass it down. It gave shape and order to their worship and grounded them in who God had revealed Himself to be.
We use similar tools today. Think of how children learn the colors of the rainbow with ROY G BIV. Or how Christians remember important truths using acrostics like GRACE, which stands for “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense,” or the ACTS model of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Psalm 111 serves a similar purpose. It gives us something solid to hold on to and return to in every season.
More than its structure, the content of the psalm is what makes it so meaningful. Psalm 111 doesn’t start by talking about our circumstances. It starts with God’s character and His actions. In just ten verses, we are reminded of what God has done and who He is. The psalm says that “Great are the works of the Lord,” and “Glorious and majestic are His deeds.” It declares that God “has caused His wonders to be remembered,” that “He provided redemption for His people,” and that “Holy and awesome is His name.” These are not just poetic phrases. They are deep theological truths. They remind us that when everything else is unstable, God is still trustworthy. His works are faithful. His covenant is unchanging. His righteousness will never fade.
One of the most striking lines is found in verse 9: “He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever.” That is more than a historical reference. It is a declaration of God’s continuing work. The same God who redeemed Israel is the God who redeems us today through Jesus Christ. His covenant love has not expired. His mercy is not temporary. His promises are not up for revision. They are still true, and they still hold.
This is the kind of truth that can steady your life. When your emotions feel unreliable or your plans have fallen apart, Psalm 111 pulls your focus back to what is eternal. It brings you back to the nature of God’s redemption and the reliability of His character.
What’s more, Psalm 111 is part of a pair. It goes hand-in-hand with Psalm 112. These two psalms are designed to complement each other. They share the same acrostic format and both begin with a call to praise. Psalm 111 focuses on who God is, and Psalm 112 shows us what it looks like when a person responds rightly to that knowledge. Psalm 112 opens by saying, “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.” It then describes the life of someone who is rooted in faith. Their heart is secure. They are generous. They are not afraid of bad news. They shine in dark places. In every way, they reflect the God they worship.
The connection is important. Psalm 111 gives us the foundation, and Psalm 112 reveals the fruit. One leads us into worship, the other into a transformed life. This reminds us that praise is not just something we express with our lips. It is something we live. Worship leads to wisdom. Gratitude leads to godliness. Praise realigns us with the heart of God, and that alignment changes how we move through the world.
When I preached through this passage, I emphasized that redemption is not something we earn. It is a gift. We didn’t achieve it or purchase it. Christ paid the price with His own blood. And because of that gift, we are called into a life that is shaped by grace, truth, and transformation. Psalm 112 makes that clear. The godly person doesn’t just sing about God’s greatness. They reflect it. They live generously. They act with integrity. They respond to hardship with faith. They are not shaken because they are anchored.
Maybe you are in a season right now where everything feels off. Maybe your life is full of joy, or maybe you feel dry, anxious, or overwhelmed. Maybe you’ve lost track of how faithful God has been, or you’ve forgotten the joy of His salvation. The good news is that you do not have to fix yourself before you come back. The road to redemption is still open. You can start where you are. You can return to center by lifting your eyes to God in praise.
Let Psalm 111 guide you back. Read it slowly. Speak it out loud if you can. Let its truth remind you of who God is and what He has done. Let it settle in your heart. And as you move forward, allow the picture painted in Psalm 112 to shape your choices and your character. Let your life reflect the God who redeemed you.
This is not just ancient poetry. It is a living pattern. It is a way back to the solid ground of faith. If you feel tired, scattered, or uncertain, begin here. Begin with praise. Let Psalm 111 help you recenter your life. Recenter your life with Psalm 111.