Some people have told me that they tried to experience power in praise but have been unable to see any results. They followed the examples they read in my books and sincerely endeavored to give praise to God an opportunity to work greatly-needed changes in their lives. After a few discouragements, they decided that praising God would accomplish nothing in or for them.   

I’ve wrestled in my heart and mind for many years trying to learn ways to help more people understand and receive help. Recently I was laboring to help an especially needy person when the following illustration seemed to rush into my mind. Try this: Set a three-year-old child at a piano and urge him to play. What quality of music is likely to come forth? What if you sincerely and strongly want that child to immediately play classical music? You already know what the result will probably be.

But is it impossible for a three-year-old child to sit at a piano for the first time and immediately play complicated music? No, it isn’t impossible, for it has happened. There have been completely inexplicable examples of children knowing how to play before they learned. Other three-year-olds have been given a few lessons and in a brief time were able to play Beethoven’s symphonies.

If your child can’t play Beethoven after six weeks of instruction, would you tell him to quit trying? Why not?

Nearly every person can eventually learn to play the piano. Some may play with one finger, but they can manage a tune. Most people can even learn to play fairly well but nearly all of us would have to work very hard to play well enough to be the church pianist.

Should we spend our lives grumbling that we aren’t that one person in a billion who could learn with no effort? That would accomplish nothing. We have to accept the reality that some things in life are easy for one person and more difficult for another.

I’ve seen and known people who tried praising the Lord and on the very first occasion had amazing results. Some experiences have been so unusual that even I had difficulty believing them. But over and over I’ve been convinced that some people immediately experience unusual miracles in the earliest days of their efforts to praise the Lord for everything.

Other people strive to believe that God is working in every part of their lives and it takes longer for them to believe in their heart. Some wrestle with their faith for weeks. Some for months. Some for years.

Should those who have to work strenuously at learning throw up their hands and quit? Of course not. I can’t explain why one person can easily learn to play the piano nor can I explain why one person experiences such quick results when they praise the Lord.

Why one person enjoys learning to play the piano and another finds it pure agony is also puzzling to me.

One person thoroughly and completely enjoys the journey of learning to praise the Lord; another stumbles and feels like giving up at every turn. But understanding the power in praising God is far more crucial than learning to play a musical instrument!

If we receive no instant miracles as we praise the Lord, we still can receive daily strength. Every time we believe in or hearts that God is working good in us, a new joy is born within. Step by step – be it ever so small – our confidence in our Father will increase! It’s an exciting adventure! Keep moving forward. The rewards are sure, and they are eternal. (Reprint from October 1998)