By Jade Kessler

“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His Name.”  Hebrews 13:15
 “I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Yahweh.”  Psalm 116:17
A few weeks ago we had an evening service of singing and testimonials at church. Two little girls (about 4 and 2) had sung earlier in the morning service and their little friend (who is 3) had watched and later asked his dad, “Why am I not singing?!?” So his dad made arrangements for him to sing that evening.

He wasn’t really sure whether the little boy would actually do it, but he wanted him to have the chance. The little boy was all in to it….

until he got up in front of all those people!

He started off tentative.

“Jesus loves me this I know”

His little lip started quivering.

“For the Bible tells me so”

Tears started falling.

“Little ones to Him belong”

Big gulp.

“They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.”
He trembled. He cried. He had to take several deep breaths.

BUT HE KEPT ON SINGING!

He sang the whole song.

And how it blessed my heart!

It cost him something to sing that song. It was a sacrifice. He gave the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

I couldn’t help but think how God must feel when we praise Him through the tears.

As we wait on MRI results or watch a friend’s marriage crumble. How it must touch His heart when we tremble with fear and our voice quivers and we have to take a really big breath to offer Him our thanksgiving.

For the finances we so desperately need, the job that would really help our family, the illness we want healed.

He knows how much it costs us to do so. He knows it truly is a sacrifice.

Regardless of our circumstances He is worthy or our praise and thanksgiving.
I was listening to the Lauren Daigle song “Trust In You” the other day. Whenever I hear that song, I always think of my friend who sang that at his stillborn son’s funeral.

“When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move, when You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through, when You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You, I will trust, I will trust, I WILL TRUST IN YOU.”    ~Lauren Daigle 

There were many beautiful, confidently delivered songs that night. But none were as precious as the one that was sung through the tears.