This summer has been hard. There is no way around it. What I thought was going to be a few weeks off work with time to refresh and renew has been a time of one challenge after another – one loss after another. So what do you do with that?
For me, I purposed in my heart to continue to worship and praise God, no matter what came my way. Now, of course, that is not always easy, and some days are more difficult than others. However, I am of the mind, and I taught my daughter and grandkids, there is always something to give thanks for. It’s true – there is. I will admit, sometimes you must look deeply for that thing to give thanks for. At times, the heart of thanksgiving is simply a choice.
During these months I have thought a lot about worship. What it is and what it isn’t. What does worship really look like?
Sometimes worship is jubilant. Dancing and spinning, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. At times, the desire to worship God is so overwhelming you can’t be still. You must do something. Run. Dance. Spin about. Shout to the Lord. That is the time when worship is evident and easily recognized.
Sometimes, however, worship looks different. I would imagine when Abraham was walking up that mountain to sacrifice his only son, his promised son, his worship probably looked a lot different than it did the day God delivered his family from destruction. I would imagine he was probably not dancing and shouting. He was simply obeying. And sometimes that is what worship is. That’s what it looks like.
There are days when we lift our hands amidst an onslaught of tears and silently cry out, “God, I love you, I worship you and I trust you.”
There are days when our hearts are so heavy that words elude us, still our hearts lift in thanksgiving and praise to our God.
God called what Abraham did that day worship. He looks on the heart. Even when your heart is heavy and words fail you, as long as you keep walking with him. Keep obeying his word. Keep him in your heart, he calls it worship.
Worship is not loud music or flashing lights, it is a heart that is completely sold out to God. A heart that trusts him completely.
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
(Hab 3:17-19)
More often than not, worship is a choice. Its not a song, though it can be a song. It’s not a dance, though sometimes it is. It is a heart issue. It is what is flowing from your heart. Sometimes it is loud, often quiet, at times, silent.
Some days it is sitting in silence, lifting your hands without uttering a word, while allowing your heart to break wide open in his presence – that’s how true healing comes. That’s when he is quite near.
. (Ps 34:18)
I said all that to say this, if today is one of those days when it feels like worship and praise is a battle, give yourself a break. God doesn’t only want you in your strong moments, he desires to be with you in your real hurtful moments too. He wants you to run to him in your painful times as well as your celebratory times.
As the song says, sometimes we only have a hard-fought hallelujah to offer up to God. A hallelujah we have fought hard to offer to our God, during pain and suffering. That doesn’t mean you’re are weak – it only means you are real and faithful – no matter what comes your way. You are the one God is looking for.
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chron 16:9)
God is looking for people just like you. Just like Abraham. Just like King David when his son died. The Bible says he washed his face and worshipped God. God is looking for people just like that. Just like you
