One thing I have come to notice in my life is that there are some worship songs which, one way or another, lose their ability to deeply impact you. Maybe it’s thanks to our lovely Christian radio stations that play the same songs over and over again, or it could be the fact that if you spend enough time on worship teams, there are songs you simply don’t want to sing, play, or hear for what feels like the quadrillionth time. Public apology to Matt Redman, but the first song with which I experienced this phenomena was his 2014 hit, “10,000 Reasons.” I remember going to weekend retreats as a middle schooler at Door Creek Church and dramatically gagging upon hearing the grand piano introduction leading into what felt like the ceaseless repetition of the lyrics “bless the Lord, O my soul…” Thankfully, I have matured some since middle school—or at least I like to think so—and Redman’s worship tune, while still not my favorite, no longer sends me running for the hills. Nevertheless, similar to most of you I’m sure, I do still have those songs that make my flesh want to flee any form of worship. What can I say? My taste in music tends to synthesize itself with my incessant endeavor toward individualism. Most recently, the song that my soul drags to engage with is Leeland’s ever-popular “Way Maker.” I feel like so many people read that sentence and now proceed to detest my taste in music. Full disclosure, it’s a great song, but when I hear its solemn lead-in, my mind immediately prods at me: “How many times can you sing ‘that is who you are’ and mean it?” Oof. Allow me to share something with you, though. My feelings toward “Way Maker” are not at the fault of any worship team, or even Leeland; they’re my responsibility. What I choose to do with them is my choice.
Worship is a response, a response to the marvelous works Christ has accomplished. Let me tell you, submitting my emotions and choosing to worship via “Way Maker,” humbles me in an inexplicable way. Regardless of how I feel, He is worthy of my worship; He will always be worthy of our worship. During a recent time of praise and adoration, I was brought to tears by the blessing of the lyrics found in the bridge. The Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart, and He said, “the reason you don’t like singing this song is because you continue to sing it, without complete belief that the song is true.” Anyone else experiencing conviction from the Holy Spirit in your worship times? Phew, can I get an amen? The reason I’m writing today is because I believe, like me, like so many who have gone before us, we’ve forgotten who He is. I fail to believe what I’m singing when I fail to remember who He is.
In Joshua chapter 4 it reads,
20Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan, 21and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did the Red Sea, which he dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24This is so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is strong, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.” (CSB)
There’s a lot to unpack here. Talk about a reverent awe of the Lord. Who wouldn’t fear Him? But the truth is, as those of you who are familiar with the impending history of the Israelites might know, they did forget. Recently, my Discipleship Training School leader spoke a word of wisdom to our group. He said, “I’d like to think I’m better than the Israelites, that I don’t forget as quickly. The truth is, I forget more quickly.” You think you’d remember crossing a river on dry ground! Even still, Joshua set up stones for the Israelites. But they forgot, and all too often, I know I forget too. I think it’s due time we take a moment to remind ourselves who He is. In case you forgot, like I often do, He’s a way maker.
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. (Exodus 14 CSB)
Maybe you’ve also forgotten, but He’s a miracle worker.
49While [Jesus] was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.” [...] 52Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.” [...] 54So he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. (Luke 8 CSB)
Maybe it’s just me, but the last time I checked, I could not revive people from the dead, especially not by my own power. But in speaking just one phrase, Jesus restored life to this girl through her father’s belief. Let me repeat that one more time because I think we frequently gloss over such an extraordinary miracle, Jesus restored life. This girl was dead, gone, flatlined, but not for Him, not for our miracle-working God. You need only to read mere portions of the Living Word to know that Jesus did that same thing more than once: Lazarus (John 11), Widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7), revival of each one of His spiritual children (Ephesians 2:1-5), not to mention the resurrection of Jesus Himself! Maybe you’re not hoping to revive a family member, but if God can and has revived human lives, can He not also revive your hope? Your joy? Your spirit? With the power and authority of Jesus Christ, we can speak life into our circumstances, and sweet friend, I encourage you to do so.
Now, I don’t know about y’all, but I often make agreements that, for one reason or another, are never seen to fruition. I fell asleep. I forgot. I had another commitment. When I went to do my Discipleship Training School through Youth with a Mission – Minneapolis, I made a deal with God: these 6 months, all Him. I dedicated my time to knowing Him, promising to make Him known. Don’t get me wrong, after DTS, I knew God better than ever before and made Him known in ways I had never done before. However, there were many moments throughout my school where I fell short. I made decisions that distanced me from God. I fixed my gaze on distractions, rather than remaining in the promise I had made. I’m sure glad God is nothing like me. Though I may often forget, He has never stopped and will never stop being a promise keeper.
13bThe Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. (Psalm 145 NLT)
20For all the promises of God find their yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1)
If I were at all spontaneous and unstructured, here would be the part of the blog where I throw you for a complete plot twist and write about a characteristic of God other than His lyrically-anticipated “light-in-the-darkness-ness.” But I shan’t. God put this message on my heart amidst my trudging to sing “Way Maker,” and I feel it’s only appropriate to finish this post in the theme with which we began. In the darkness of our depression, anxiety, and yes, even our forgetfulness, God is light.
5This is the message we have heard and declare to you: God is light , and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 7If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1 CSB)
105Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119 ESV)
You’re not the only one who forgets things. From the beginning of time, even God’s chosen people have needed reminders of who He is. We can’t do this life without Him. Sometimes it’s easy to forget, heck, it’s always easy to forget; it takes conscious effort to remember something! God wants to renew your hope today. He hasn’t changed. It is with immense gratitude I can say, our feelings don’t have the final say in what is true. Even when we don’t see it, even when we don’t feel it, God is still working. He is refining us. No season is ever wasted. Take some time to know your Creator today; in Him alone, we are fully known. The God who was and is and is to come.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)
That is who you are.
