When Praise Becomes a Sacrifice: Finding God’s Goodness in the Hard Places with Wendy Speake!When Praise Becomes a Sacrifice: Finding God’s Goodness in the Hard Places with Wendy Speake!
Anchored by the Sword
Gina Fox and Wendy Speake talk about learning to offer a “sacrifice of praise” in seasons of deep struggle, grief and family trials. Their conversation highlights an intentional shift from asking God for change to thanking him for who he is, even when life feels anything but easy.
37:39•30 Sept 2026
When Praise Hurts: Wendy Speake on Asking Less and Thanking More
Episode Overview
- Praising God in painful seasons can be a spiritual discipline that requires real effort and willpower.
- An intentional "ask fast" shifts focus from constant petitions to thanking God for his character and goodness.
- Bringing honest emotions to God is essential; hiding them leads to an inauthentic and immature faith.
- Isolation during hardship often increases suffering, so identifying safe, authentic friends is crucial.
- Regular practice of praise and thanksgiving, such as a 30-day focus, can reshape mindset and bring renewed hope.
“If we do not come to Christ with our authentic feelings, we will have an inauthentic faith.”
What drives someone to seek a life that’s rooted in praise, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart? This conversation between host Gina Fox and returning guest Wendy Speake gives a candid look at praising God in the very seasons where faith feels fragile.
Wendy shares how her new book, *A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: 30 Days of Rejoicing in God's Goodness* grew out of a time when, as she says, her life "started to crumble" on multiple levels. Rather than spilling every detail, she focuses on what God taught her: that sometimes praise isn’t a warm feeling, it’s hard work.
"If we do not come to Christ with our authentic feelings, we will have an inauthentic faith," she explains, challenging the habit of plastering on a smile and saying "God is good" while your heart is breaking. You’ll hear about the idea of an "ask fast"—setting aside petitions like "God, fix this" for a short season to focus instead on praising God for who he is.
Wendy describes how meeting a woman on a flight, who had fasted from asking, sparked this whole journey and led her to Psalm 100 and the practice of entering God’s presence "with thanksgiving and praise" first. The chat is raw yet hopeful, touching on grief, isolation, and the temptation to hide how bad things really are, whether in church or online.
Gina and Wendy talk about finding "your people"—those safe friends who can handle the full story—and how praising God in loss can reshape your mindset and even your brain’s patterns. This episode speaks to anyone in addiction recovery or emotional pain who’s wondering if gratitude is still possible. It gently suggests that even when you’re "barely persevering in life", you can learn to persevere in praise.
Could a season of thanking God more and asking less be the shift your heart needs right now?
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