A few Sundays ago, I walked to my church with a heavy heart. There’d been a few disappointments in my week and I felt defeated. What I really fancied doing was burrowing under a duvet and hibernating for a couple of days, but I got myself out of bed, got dressed and headed to that morning’s service.
As soon as the music began to play I knew I didn’t feel like worshiping, which is not the most fun thing to admit. I felt drained. But I sang along and found myself feeling more calm and relaxed than I had at any point that week.
Before I knew it, my hands were in the air, surrendered to God, and I was singing praises to my Saviour as a week’s worth of supressed tears poured down my cheeks.
I was able to do that because of this one fact: Our faith isn’t about how we feel.
If it was, my hope in Jesus would be a whole lot weaker some days than others and I don’t believe that’s the kind of life He wants for me, or for anyone.
Maybe this week isn’t going to plan for you, and the thought of worshipping on Sunday doesn’t fill you with excitement. Life can be difficult, it can wear us down. But that’s all the more reason to run to Jesus and fall at His feet, allow Him to refresh our souls and sing out to Him. Even if we don’t feel like it, powerful breakthrough can happen in worship.
What does the Bible say about Worship?
“And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve’.” (Luke 4:8)
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.” (Isaiah 12:5)
When we worship we are declaring the glorious things He has done for us. We are declaring the truth of the Gospel over ourselves and others.
Our worship is a weapon. It is so much more powerful than simply singing along to a catchy tune. It’s a time when we declare that our God is greater than any circumstance, that in any season He deserves all glory and praise.
Lifting our voices and hands when we don’t feel like it is making a statement: He’s worth our time, our energy, our adoration and all of our attention.
So next time you’re heading to church feeling tired or disheartened, take heart and sing out words of hope. Remind yourself of His goodness and let Him give you supernatural rest and strength to take on the week ahead.
This article was written by Ella Connolly who is an English and Drama student at Exeter University in the UK. She is an avid reader and writes even more, blogging about faith, life and crafts at Ella’s Scribbles.