The year of 2020 has brought more than its fair share of challenges. You might be one who laughs at the word challenges and says, “More like disasters!” as income and job opportunities dried up. On the flip side, you might be one who suddenly finds yourself running faster and harder to keep up with the changing landscapes of business or child care that have occurred this year. Regardless of where you find yourself on the spectrum from “Pause” that feels more like a full stop or “Play” that feels more like fast forward, there is no doubt that this year has challenged our hearts, minds, and spirits.
Disappointment, frustration, fear, and anxiety have been almost constant companions in 2020. Those influencers are intent on hindering your walk and relationship with the Lord and distracting you from His path of purpose. They are also happy to partner with their cousin self-pity to dig a pit that is sure to trip you and keep your eyes looking down— at your personal circumstances. I would suggest that many of us feel weary from looking down as we trudge ahead under the weight of this year.
Like a weary desert traveler, tired after a day of putting one foot in front of the other, we thirst for an oasis. Like a farmer watching his crops dry up in a season of drought, we long for God to rain on us with His Presence, direction, and wisdom. Jeremiah 17:7–8 says,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
How can we practice trusting the Lord when all around us life is unsettled, uncertain, and downright scary? How do we rid ourselves of the influence of fear, anxiety, frustration, self-pity, and all that assails us from the accuser? The fact is that we cannot—in our own reason and strength—work our way out of the pit of self-pity, disappointment, and all of their cousins. It is only through the Spirit that we free ourselves of their influence. Zechariah 4:7 tells us this truth.
“Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
What does that look like in daily life? The answer is found in one word. That word is worship. Isaiah 42:10-13 gives us a clue to the value of worship. The first three verses use the phrases “Sing to the Lord a new song.” “Sing praise.” “Shout for joy” and “Give Glory to the Lord.” These are all declarations of worship. Verse 13 shows us God’s response to our worship when it says,
“The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.”
Did you catch that, Dear One?
Your worship has the power to cause the God of Angel Armies to fight on your behalf.
Your enemies are His enemies!
He will not be defeated!
He will prevail!
He is victorious!
When Christ rose from the grave He procured the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil’s influences. We share in that victory everytime we give God honor and glory through our acts of worship.
Does that sound too simple? How can worship make a difference? Worship changes the landscape of your heart. Worship ushers in the Prince of Peace who cancels the assignment of the enemy of your soul. From a place of peace and rest you find strength to trust your Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter in the middle of your drought season. Worship releases the living water that reaches the very roots of your existence.
As Jesus said to the woman at the well (John 4:13–14)
“Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
That my friends is living water! That is the water of life!
Woship the Giver of LIfe.
Sing praises to your Creator.
Give glory to the Lord of Hosts.
Drink of Christ’s living water through song, praise, and the reading of His Word.
Then watch and see as the God of Angel Armies replaces your
fear with joy,
your anxiety with trust in Him,
your disappointment with confidence,
chaos with order,
and so much more!
Watch and see as challenges and even disasters become opportunities for you to bear fruit in the midst of the drought. Then, in gratitude for fruit bearing, continue to worship the Lord. The well of living water never runs dry. That, Dear Ones, is good news!
Glory to God!
“Rising” is a 24″x 36″ abstract painting available from Deborah L Gall