I want us to ask ourselves this question: What kind of sound am I making? Every day, every one of us is given the choice regarding the kind of attitude we are going to embrace. It doesn’t matter if things are going well in our lives or are not going as well as we wish they would — we still have to make a choice: Are we going to be negative and speak words of doubt? Or will we remain positive and speak words filled with faith and God’s power?

We can find example after example in the Word of God — from Noah to the apostle Paul — of men and women who had upon their lips the sound of praise, whether they were going through challenges or enjoying a time of peace and prosperity. Right now I’m thinking about the Shunammite woman, whom the Bible calls a “great woman” (2 Kings 4:8). She and her husband, who were childless, had built a place in their home for Elisha, the man of God, so he could stay there when passing through the village of Shunem. Later God gave this couple a son through the ministry of Elisha.

One day during a harvest season, this couple’s young son fell sick in the fields where his father was working. The father sent the son to his mother by one of the servants, and later that day, the child died. The woman laid her son on the bed where Elisha slept when he was in town. Then she decided to go to Elisha on behalf of her dead son. When her husband questioned her, the only sound she made was, “It shall be well” (see 2 Kings 4:23).

I want you to grasp the magnitude of this woman’s statement! Her son was dead, but this mother declared, “It shall be well”!

When the Shunammite woman reached Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her coming and instructed his servant, “Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well” (2 Kings 4:26).

Although her son was dead, this woman of God said, “It is well!” She had her eye on something — on Someone — bigger than her problem. And she refused to let go of her faith, which was so powerfully echoed by three simple words from her mouth: “It is well!” (You can read the entire account in Second Kings 4:8-37.)

So I want to ask again: What are the sounds coming out of our mouths? And what about the “sound” coming from us in the form of attitudes, even in our body language? Are we constantly complaining about our situation — or even pouting and withdrawing from life because we feel helpless, hopeless, and forgotten in life?

The Bible says that “the just shall live by faith” (see Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). In troubled times, God wants us to throw our shoulders back, put a smile on our faces, sing a song of victory, and declare, “It is well!” Whenever we do that, we are making a sound of declaration to angels, to demons, to those around us, and to ourselves that we’re not settling for just what we can see. By faith in God and His Word, we are looking unto those things we can’t see! We’re expecting the fulfillment of God’s promises before they ever manifest in our lives!

At various times in our lives, each of us will face different challenges. But as children of God, we are called to walk a higher walk than those who have no faith in God. When adversity is blowing like a hurricane in the lives of people who don’t know Him, they will tell you just how awful the situation is. They will “tell it like it is”! Until someone brings them the truth and they receive it, they are without God and without hope in this world.

Although we may be experiencing some of the same challenges as those who don’t believe in Jesus, we are those who have hope! Our confidence comes from walking by faith — from trusting in what God has said in His Word.

The things written in the Old Testament were written and given to us as examples. Therefore, we must follow the example of the Shunammite woman, who still had confident expectation in God’s help when the situation looked hopeless.

This godly woman didn’t even have the Holy Spirit indwelling her, yet she proclaimed, “It is well!” She didn’t have the Word of God available to her as we do today. She didn’t have Christian television or a library filled with Christian books. What she did have, however, was her past service to God — her decision to provide a place for a man of God. She’d also had a very real experience with God: Although she was an older woman with an old husband, God had blessed her with a child.

So let me encourage you to look to the Shunammite woman’s example as you deal with the challenging situations you’re facing right now. When adversity comes, remember these two things: (1) your service to God; and (2) your experience with God. Then let these words be your confession of faith: “No matter what challenge I might face today, it is well!”

First, remember your past service to God. Remind yourself that God doesn’t forget what you’ve done for Him. He hasn’t forgotten your service to Him and to others. He hasn’t forgotten your offerings to Him. He remembers your faith and your trust in His ability to see you through every situation. He knows you’ve tried to do the right thing, even if you’ve failed at times. And since God remembers all these things, you need to remember them too!

Second, I encourage you to remember your past experiences with God. Remember the times He healed your body, took care of you financially, saved your life from danger, healed your sick child, delivered your mind from fear and depression, or saved your marriage.

You’ve had experiences with God! Remember that! Remind yourself of all the times you thought there was no way out of your difficult situation, and then God made a way. As you recall those experiences, you can look at your present difficulties that seem to be staring you down and boldly say: “I remember what God has already done for me — and it is well!”

Friend, what sound are you making today? Keep in mind as you face today’s challenges that you have the opportunity not only to have victory in those situations, but you can also impact those around you — family members, employers, co-workers, and friends — with a positive message of faith in God and His Word. When you rise up in the midst of difficulties and declare, “It is well,” you give glory to God and release Him to work His wonders in your life.

With just a simple sound of faith spilling forth from your lips, you can bring peace and comfort where there was once fear and discouragement. You can bring stability to your home instead of upheaval. And you can usher joy into the atmosphere where negativity and gloom has prevailed.