Praise into Presence

Psalm 22: A Prophetic Song of Suffering and Praise

Have you ever cried out, “God, where are You?” You’re not alone. David opens Psalm 22 with that exact cry: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (NLT). And yet, in the same breath, he remembers: “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (v3).

Enthroned. That word means seated in authority.

It means when we praise, we don’t just comfort ourselves—we make room for God’s rule to enter the situation. His presence comes where He is praised.

Praise isn’t noise; it’s power.

David remembers how his ancestors trusted God and were never put to shame (v4).

Then he recalls something deeply intimate: “You were my midwife at my birth, setting me at my mother’s breasts… You’ve been my God since I left my mother’s womb” (MSG, v9–10). From the beginning, God has been closer than anything. Even before we could talk, we were learning dependence.

This psalm isn’t just about David. It’s a prophetic picture of Jesus on the cross. Jesus quoted the first line while suffering (Matthew 27:46), fulfilling every detail of Psalm 22—from pierced hands to mocked trust. His pain birthed our praise.

And then, the shift—praise rises and David shifts into declaring God's promises.

A promise spreads: “The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him” (NLT v26). In MSG, verse 29 sings:

“Down-and-outers sit at God’s table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him—‘Live it up, from now on!’”

The powerful, the poor, and even those who “never got it together”—they all worship.

Praise turns things around because it brings God’s presence, power, and perspective into our moment.

And it doesn’t stop with us. The last line of Psalm 22 (MSG) is breathtaking:

“Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news— that God does what he says.”

Your Challenge Today:

Where do you feel forsaken? Take that very place—and instead of fixing it—praise through it.

Praise turns pain into presence. Lift your voice, not because everything’s perfect, but because He is present.

And when He’s enthroned on your praise, everything begins to change—from the inside out.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for Your heart towards me today. And Lord, I thank You that even when I feel like I’m alone and even when I’m suffering, You are so present. Lord, You turn things around with Your presence, so I welcome Your presence, and I praise You, Lord, that Your presence is able to turn all things around.

I thank You that You are with me, Lord. I pray that I will feel and sense Your presence in everything I do today. Help me to be aware that You are with me, —that even from my mother’s womb, You were right beside me, leading the way. Lord, You go before me into every situation.

I pray that You will be enthroned. I pray that my heart will be a dwelling place for Your presence. As I praise You, let my heart declare that no matter what this looks like—no matter what my situation says—You are present. You are with me. You are faithful, and You will remain faithful from this generation to the generations to come.

I pray that I will worship You. I pray that I will worship You in spirit and in truth. And Holy Spirit, help me to be a worshiper who understands that even though sometimes, Father, You might feel far—you never are. You are inside of me. You are working through me. You are turning all situations around with praise.

And I thank You, Lord, for all that You are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.