Praising through the pain

Sing despite difficult circumstances

“We have the right to sing despite all the difficult circumstances around us. James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” We thank the Lord because He is with us just as He was with the three men in the furnace and with Daniel in the lion’s den. We will sing songs of praise very soon.”

One viewer of SAT-7’s live praise and worship programme, Keep on Singing, captured the very essence of the show when they recently called in to the show to share this encouragement.

Two recent episodes, aired on SAT-7 ARABIC in July, have been especially powerful. In an episode entitled “Joy”, guest singer Bahgat Adly introduced the subject of painful trials that we experience in life. “The Lord purifies us when we go through the trials,” Bahgat explained. “He doesn’t get rid of the problems all the time. He uses pain to shape our souls and purify us.  The end of all our pain is when the physical body dies, but as long as we are on earth there will always be pain and trouble. However, in the midst of all this the Lord uses the trials for our own good.”

Coping with cancer

Viewer and mother of two, Ruth from Cairo, called the show to share her current experience of coping with breast cancer aged just 32. Ruth said, “Indeed, the Lord is with us in all circumstances. The Lord said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” He said it because He lived it. This is what I am experiencing. In the midst of the pain, the Lord provides unparalleled joy and peace. It is different to worldly peace and joy. I want to tell everyone who is going through difficult times, just lay it all on the Lord and you’ll experience unique joy and peace.”

Just one week later, a particularly poignant episode, entitled “The Lord is Near” was broadcast. Sibling members of worship band, The Good News Team, who regularly lead the live on air worship for Keep On Singing, had recently lost their mother after a long illness. Singer Victor Fawzi shared how he was living out James’ calling to have joy in the face of trials. “A few weeks ago, our mother passed away but I want to say that there was no sorrow nor depression. There was joy instead of frustration. There was hope and consolation. This is because our mother knew how to live the kingdom of God here on earth… That’s why we could sing hymns when we were celebrating her passing away. We had joy because we were sure that she was going to heaven.”

Praise and worship programmes are a vital part of SAT-7’s ministry to empower the Church and be a catalyst for spiritual renewal in the Middle East and North Africa. Viewer feedback through calls to live programmes such as Keep on Singing and comments on social media testify that lives are being impacted across the region. As producer, Andrew Gamal, explains, “offering the messages of the Bible through songs can touch people’s souls and help them feel God’s presence, even if they listen to one song for five minutes.”