Rain or Shine

Lately I have been reading Matt Redman’s book “ The Unquenchable Worshipper.” It has many great truths about worshipping the Lord and even in the first few pages I am reminded that worshipping the Lord must be something the believer does in all circumstances. So many people base their worship to the Lord on how they feel at that moment. Feelings and emotions are important, but they also can distract us and even lead us into sin, the complete opposite of lifestyle worship. (“But each one is tempted when he is carried away by his own lust. James 1:14) The individual is solely responsible for his sin, and honestly, even for his feelings and emotions.

There certainly are times in our lives when we feel discouraged or just plain “blue.” However, we must still be striving to live a life of worship in these times. In his book, Redman mentions several Scriptures in chapter one that hopefully you will find encouraging. Habakkuk 3:17-18 states:

Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

While I don’t particularly care for figs I still think I can relate to Habakkuk’s words. There are always periods in our lives when we endure financial troubles, problems, and trials. What will we do in those times? Will we become depressed or discouraged, or will we turn to the Lord and trust Him as an act of worship? Will we rejoice in Him?

In Acts 16 Paul and Silas find themselves in prison. This would certainly be an opportunity to feel “down.” Here they were living their lives totally in ministry and they had been thrown in jail. Verse 25 explains that in this time they were praying and singing hymns of praise to God! What an incredible witness for the Lord. Our lifestyle of worship will influence those around us. Who and what we worship influences more than just ourselves. A few verses later we read that an earthquake frees the prisoners, yet they all stay in place. God used Paul and Silas’s witness (their lives of worship) to influence the entire jail and to bring one of the jailers and his household to salvation (verse30-31)!

While Redman doesn’t mention him, I can’t help but think of Job and his reaction to hard times. Job, a very wealthy God-follower suddenly loses it all; his family and his wealth. His reaction is found in Job 1:20-22

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all of this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. 

It is my prayer that our attitudes be similar to that of David in Psalm 34:1-3 where he writes:

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. 

Regardless of our circumstances, whether bleak or blissful, may we always exalt the name of the Lord; rain or shine!