I’ll let you in to a little secret about me... I’m not that great with words. If you know me, you might find that hard to believe. Every week I write talks, sermons, small group sessions, I’m writing a blog right now, and I love talking to people, but like I say, finding the right words doesn’t always come naturally to me. Which is why when I do prepare stuff I have to completely rely on God to help me because I can’t do this in my own strength.
I look at my husband, Connor. He can write poems off the top of his head, and there are times I’m trying to say something but don’t know how to put it, and when he helps me, he can put in to words exactly what I’m trying to get across.
But I think there are times we all find ourselves a little speechless... Especially during times like these.
Why is this happening? When will it end? I don’t know. And I don’t know what to say.
For me, I guess that’s why I worship.
Worship verbalises the things I’m trying to say but can’t find the words to put across.
Worship takes me from where I am right now straight in to the throne room of God...right to the feet of Jesus. And when I find myself there, everything is ok. Peace and joy is found. I think that’s often what sets Christians apart from the world - during times of crisis and uncertainty we can have peace. Sometimes it’s not easy. It’s not often our natural response, but friends we have to set our minds on things above and not the chaos that’s going on around us. And this doesn’t mean you’re being ignorant to what’s happening in the world - it’s about learning to fix your eyes on Jesus through it all and trusting that He’s sovereign.
I can be quite stubborn sometimes (all my secrets are coming out now!). But there are times in my life when things happen and my natural first response certainly is NOT worship. My first response is tempted to be anger, rage, ‘why God?!’ But I’m learning. The more I get to know God and the more time I spend with Him, the more I worship because I know how good He is. Circumstances are going to change through the seasons. There will be up’s and there will be downs, and in this world we will have trouble, but God remains the same. He remains good, and He has overcome the world.
Three days ago Connor’s auntie died from this virus. Sudden and out of no where - she was fine and then she was not.
What was my first response?
It was almost anger. How is this fair? Why her?
But I had to make a conscious choice to worship. And I will continue to make that conscious choice throughout my life until worship becomes my natural first response.
I don’t have the answers to the why’s and how’s, but God is still good. We will never understand Him fully, and that’s ok because that’s where trust and faith comes in. Trusting that He knows what He’s doing and faith in His goodness.
Come to the throne room with me and we can sit at the feet of Jesus together. That is where we need to be spending our time. That’s where we find our peace. And that is when we realise that everything is going to be ok.
On the topic of worship, there’s a song I want to leave you with. It’s called Good and Loved by Travis Greene and Steffany Gretzinger. And what I love about this song is that it’s written from the perspective of Jesus talking to us.
Here’s a bit from it:
“Through the chaos, I will be your joy
When you’re finished, I have so much more
In the waiting, I’m an open door
Stand still and know, I am your Lord.”
To whoever is reading this, I pray now that you will find peace amidst the chaos in the presence of Jesus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DefL-oJpjo8
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