The Need to Worship

“On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’ Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ And he said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.” Genesis 22:4-8

Worship is often associated with cheerful, happy occasions in our lives. Blessed by God, we gladly turn echoes of praise for His goodness. However, a review of the Scriptures reveals another aspect of worship that is as important and perhaps more meaningful. For it is in times of distress, trail, and discouragement that worship is essential to maintain spiritual stability.

The Psalms burst with worship of God while in the throes of affliction. When David was up against the wall with no way out, he consistently sang out praises after pouring out his heartaches. When Jehoshaphat saw he was surrounded by militant hordes, God instructed him to arrange a praise service. At the stroke of midnight in a rank jail, Paul and Silas started a sing-along of praise hymns.

Are you depressed? Is your outlook gloomy? Are you in a tight place with no obvious escape route? Right now is the time to turn your heart toward worship. Deliberately overrule your feelings of despondency and heaviness and worship God. Nothing is too hard for God, and nothing like worship awakens us to that reality.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18