Painful Worship

Are you struggling to understand? Are you stuck in a state of anger? Have you lost something or someone very precious? It may be the loss of your child’s health or even the death of a child. A spouse has may have gone to heaven or left you for someone else. Your children are mad, because they do not understand why you are divorcing. They want their parents to work it out so they can have a mom and dad. You want to see the children, but your ex-spouse’s anger has built a barrier between the two of you.

Is your heart hemorrhaging with hurt and animosity? In the middle of your ravished home, you also lost your job. You cannot afford to pay your child support, because you do not have any income and your net worth has vaporized. This is a barren and lonely time for you. Everything you once held dear, you took for granted and now is gone.

You have no spouse, no children, no home, no job and no money. One is a lonely number. Where are you to turn when the bottom falls out? God seems detached and heaven seems a trillion miles away. Can you be forgiven? Yes, you can be forgiven. God is a God of second chances. Because He forgives you—you can also forgive yourself.

God extends His grace and mercy to forgive surly stupid mistakes. You can only give up on yourself when He does, yet He will never give up on you. Forgive yourself, because He has forgiven you. Invite back and serve those you have hurt and watch God perform relational, emotional and spiritual healing. Most of all, in the middle of your horrific loss make the worship of Christ the centerpiece of your life. Worship fuels faith and heals.

Worship the Lord in your pain and loss. It is healing to focus on the greatness, holiness and wonder of God. Praise Him with your voice and praise Him with your heart and mind. Borrow or purchase worship songs that will lift you out of the depths of despair into the loving presence of Jesus. You may need to let a caring friend cradle you in their arms and sing softly in your ear “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” And, “Jesus loves you!”

You can become your own one-man band. Collect pots and pans from your kitchen and clang them together. Let these crude musical instruments become a fragrance of praise to your heavenly Father. Use whatever resources you have to make a joyful noise to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sing from the bottom of your heart, “How Great Thou Art” and “What a Friend we have in Jesus.” Christ calms your fears and comforts your heart.

He is waiting to receive your worship and praise. It is a sweet fragrance to Him, holy and acceptable. Your praise to God will become a pillow of rest to your head. Our focus on the Lord’s majesty through worship reminds us of our utter dependence on Him, and His unconditional love for us. It is revolutionary. It is radical. It is redeeming. It is renewing. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full into his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”. Worship God in the middle of your pain and worry, and then receive by faith the wonders of his grace!

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker”. (Psalm 95:6).

Am I engaged in regular personal and corporate worship of my Lord Jesus?

Related Readings: 2 Samuel 12:20; 2 Kings 17:28; Psalm 100:2; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 15:4
Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God