"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:9
There I was, sitting in church feeling defeated and wondering why I even bothered showing up. As the worship team started to play, I felt a pain in my gut and the conviction of The Holy Spirit. Seconds later, there was a question asked within my heart: "Are you going to worship your feelings, or worship me"? I knew that I had a choice to make. I was either going to purposely sit in the muck and mire and allow my heart to have cart blanche over the entire service, or I was going to take a stand and make the choice to elevate God over all of the baggage that I had carried in. Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was my sweet friend from lifegroup; I found her timing impeccable. She leaned in and whispered asking if I needed prayer. I nodded yes and the tears started to flow. I knew at that moment God had sent her to me as confirmation that He was there, and that my pain was not lost on Him. After praying, I tearfully thanked her, and turned back around. With the sound of worship filling the air, I felt my hands lifting upwards as if they had just been set free from a self-imposed prison of pity. Taking a deep breath, I raised my voice and joined in with the others, choosing to elevate the Lord above all of my feelings; choosing to place Him first in my heart. I may have walked into church that morning with a bunch of baggage, but I left with a bunch of blessings because that's just who God is! In that moment, He had given me a peace that truly surpassed all understanding.
As we go through difficult times, let us never forget who God is. He is ALWAYS good. He is The One who knows and the One who sees. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Emmanuel, and the Prince of Peace. He is mighty to save and always deserving of our worship and praise. He alone deserves ALL the glory!
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