WORSHIP anyway
“Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.” – Psalm 147:7
One of the first “church” songs I ever learned growing up, and probably you too, was “Kumbaya” (come by here.) Isn’t that still our prayer, through song, that we still want God to come by where we are? We want to feel Him close, in this season, this mess, bringing Him into what we’re doing, good, bad, celebration or misery?
I never was a singer, but I’ve always loved music, belting out praise and worship songs at the top of my lungs, not knowing or caring, for that matter, if it was too loud, as tears normally skewed my vision, andI hoped my words were louder than my shouting thoughts.
Sing!Even when your eyes are weary and tear stained, giving Him the glory through it all, even the tough times.
Is this hard? Yes! Do I do it every time, or perfectly? No!
Worship almost always brings me tears, overjoyed or overcome. I’ve sung from places of both brokenness and joy, and held my hands up in both surrender and adoration, swaying to the rhythm of the song. I’ve sung, weeping, arms wrapped on my forearms, standing and feeling alone, because I was.
I’m thankful He’s there listening and waiting for our voices. He recognizes us and welcomes our worry, without shame, and turns it into worship. He flights our fears into faith and halts our panic. He’s the God of peace, waiting on us to steady our gaze and focus on Him.
“Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before
the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people
of His pasture, the flock under His care.” Psalm 95:6-7
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Every emotion we have should be bathed and processed in prayer, then put to bed through worship.
We have to worship while fighting our battles and throughout our entire recovery process. Sometimes we have to sing, barely voicing words, overcome with emotions, pleading louder words inside than we’re able to voice, and sometimes, our tears are our songs.
I’ve worshiped Him, wondering if He was listening, or even if He was there in that season.
Did He even see me?
Did He even care?
I’ve worshiped, hands gripped to the pew, unable to move or speak, standing beyond all hope. I’ve worshiped knelt down on bended knees and postured with my heart to the floor, sometimes unable to move, frozen in emotion.
Sometimes we just kneel, hands pressed to our chest or forehead, no audible words or even songs being voiced, total quietness, total reverence. Stillness, but the sweetest melody echoing around me as His grace sang over me.
No matter how you worship, you do you! As with so many things in this season, we have to take care of ourselves, and we won’t all pray, worship, or praise the same, and that’s ok.
I never sang alone, and I’ll never praise Him without His presence, and you won’t either. The seasons He brings me to, I’m humbled that He’s there with me, surrounded by His grace, and I can’t imagine going through some of them alone. What He did, and does for me, He’ll do for YOU!
Recovery is a daily battle, but thank God, He never leaves us. Sing your battles to Him, and you may sing broken, but He just may be breaking you. Hum your hurting as tears fall, but find energy to stand In His presence.
Victory is yours!
Shelley Taylor