The Life Of A Worship LeaderЗагвар

Worship during the Tough Times

Do you find it difficult to worship during the tough times? If you're like most people, the answer is "yes."

Worship is great and easy when things seem to be going well, but when it comes to adversity, most people find it challenging to praise God. I believe in those times we need the help of the Lord to remind us what is greater.

In the book of Jeremiah, God sent Jeremiah to instruct the people of Israel to turn from their ways and turn back to God. The challenge - they were living under Babylon exile. Most people wanted a quick way out and wondered if God had deserted them. Jeremiah encouraged the people to stay strong, to live, and to worship God.

Hananiah was a prophet; he wanted his way. He claimed to the people that he had heard from God. Hananiah spoke to the people, but God gave him no authority. In essence, Hananiah was a liar. God longed to redeem His people, but He wanted it to happen on His timetable, not man's. God wanted their hearts, not their plans. Hananiah got impatient and his way ended in death. The Lord showed Jeremiah another way that gave life.

I believe that living life to the fullest has everything to do with persisting through the hard times. These are the moments that God shapes us the most. When we lose everything else, God reveals Himself standing alone for us to trust Him and His sovereignty. (1 Peter 5:7)

When we listen to the voice of God and not the voice of lies, we find His true peace as He leads us beside still waters. Not only that, He calms the raging seas in our souls, so that our trust remains in Him.

Real character and real faith takes place in the trenches. When we learn how to be at rest in what the Lord is doing, we learn how to worship through adversity. We find true security in the One who harbors our fears.

“You will seek me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13