Worship Devotional LXXXVIII
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 9/11/2021.
Worship Devotional for 9/12/21
We've been singing lately about the joy of the Lord, but we know that this life is filled with much sorrow and heartache. The joy of the Lord carries us through such times, but there will be seasons in our lives when we don't feel joyful. Even as believers — the children of God who have been given life and hope and peace and joy that is eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom we have been reconciled to the One who is the source of all goodness and love and truth — we still sometimes battle with depression and grief and doubt and fear. We still struggle with our sin and weakness and with the deception and darkness that has a hold on the world around us. This week is about holding onto faith when things are difficult and painful. We are singing about still believing and trusting in the Lord even when things don't make sense and everything seems to be crashing and falling apart around or within us. We must remember that we are not alone. We all must face various struggles in this life, but God's love and faithfulness and goodness remain steadfast and true through it all. When sorrows weigh heavily upon our souls, may we be able to say along with the sons of Korah, who wrote Psalms 42 and 43:
"Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God" (Ps. 42:5, 42:11, & 43:5).
Songs:
1) Breakthrough by Red Rocks Worship
Maybe you're struggling with a recent event, and you know that the struggle will fade, but it's extremely difficult right now. Maybe you are struggling with a vice that you've had for years and you just can't seem to find victory even though you've wrestled and tried hard to fight it. Maybe the struggles of others or of the world in general are just weighing heavily on you. Whatever your struggle, you may wonder if there will ever be breakthrough. Will there ever come a time when you finally overcome and find relief from the suffering? Sometimes breakthrough comes almost immediately when we turn our hearts to the Lord. But sometimes it only comes after a long time of waiting and praying. For some things, it may not ever come at all in this life. It may not come on our time, but we know and have come to believe that there is nothing and no one greater than our God. Because we have this hope that goes beyond this life in the One who is greater than all, we can believe with confidence even through the hardest times that there will be breakthrough. The power and presence of God is able to break the strongholds in our lives that keep us from growing closer to Him. So take whatever you're dealing with right now and give it to the Lord in prayer. Call out to Him who loves us and hears us, and hold onto faith.
2) Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell
The sorrows of this life can run very deep. But even in that place of hurting and desperation, the Lord is near. Cry out to Him from your pain and sorrow, for He hears you and loves you. He may not take away the pain, but He will be with you to comfort and strengthen you and to provide you with what you need. He does not act according to our will, but He is always faithful to keep His promises. So turn your heart to His word and trust in what He has said when things are hard and confusing and uncertain. He is our help and the rock of our salvation, and He is worthy of our praise at all times.
Psalm 34:18:
"The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit."
3) Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise) by Shane & Shane
Psalm 42:
"As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, 'Where is your God?' I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts.
Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.
The Lord will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night — a prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God, my rock, 'Why have You forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?' My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, 'Where is your God?' Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
Palms 43:
"Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man. For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?
Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.
Why am I depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
4) Way Maker by Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu
We don't just worship God when things are good and everything seems to be going well. We must also come before Him and surrender our hearts to His eternal greatness when things are at their worst. He is with us as He promised, and He is at work among us. He is able to make a way for breakthrough, victory, healing, and restoration even and especially when there seems to be no way. He is the Way Maker, Promise Keeper, Miracle Worker, Light in the darkness. He is moving and working in and around us even when we don't feel it or see it. So hold onto faith in the true and living God, no matter what you go through in this life. He is worthy of praise, and He is faithful to deliver us.
Theme(s): Faith In Sorrow, Psalm 42, Prayer For Rescue
Scripture references:
Psalms 34, 42, 43
2 Corinthians 7 (esp. vv. 9-11)
John 4:1-26, 7:37-39