DAY 9

THE WHIRLWIND

BENNY MCDANIEL, DIRECTOR OF CHURCH ONLINE

Life is a whirlwind. It’s often messier than we would aspire for it to be. You lost your job. You had to say goodbye to a loved one. Your kid starts questioning their faith. Bills just don’t seem to add up each month. You and your spouse are struggling with infertility.

You are depressed or anxious. Someone disappointed you. You disappointed someone else... again. You are surrounded by chaos and destruction. You are just overwhelmed and exhausted. All these things, they are just a few examples of the messes we face. We begin to question things we know we shouldn’t doubt, but the list above is so real and so difficult to deal with.

What does Jesus say when we are in these seasons of life? In the book of John, Jesus meets with His disciples in the upper room for Passover. He spends some time sharing what the Father asked Him to leave with the disciples. Here is the last thing He speaks to them.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33 NIV

When the whirlwind hits, this is the hope we have. Jesus has overcome the world, and He is with us daily. We do not walk alone in our trials, but rather, we have a God who has overcome all the brokenness and worldly trouble we could face. What a beautiful gift Jesus is in those hard times. His goodness is unmatched. His faithfulness is unparalleled, and He is worthy of our worship even in those times. However, that last statement is easier said than done. Reading that He has overcome the world doesn’t bring back the lost loved one. It doesn’t give you an extra paycheck or help your prodigal child come back to Jesus. It doesn’t change any of the circumstances. How do you worship in times of heartache or anger? How do you give praise to The One that could have easily prevented any of the mess if He chose to?

Those are legitimate questions. Jesus tells us in John chapter 4 that we are to worship in spirit and truth. A prerequisite to authentic worship is characterized by truth. Sometimes getting to the truth means dispelling the lie. In our pain or lack of faith we must call out the lies that the enemy creates in our minds and turn to the very truths we find in scripture. We must remember the little verses from the Sunday School class, the Bible studies, our quiet times, and the many messages we have heard that point toward a loving and caring God. He has our best interests in mind and wants joy and freedom for His children. The beauty of the Gospel is that He is the Friend, the Faithful One, the Father, the Helper, the Provider, and the Lover Of Our Souls. He is all we need in our darkest hour. So back to the question... How do you worship in times of trial? Dispel the lies. Speak the truth. Then worship. It won’t feel like it “usually” does. Sometimes worship looks like tears. Sometimes it looks like anger and honesty. Sometimes it looks like silence. Sometimes it looks like pushing through the pain to get to the love. It’s not always the front row, hands raised, smile on your face type of worship. If life gets messy, worship might look that way too. Just don’t forget that He is worthy.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

—Romans 8:35,37–39 NIV

PRAYER

Jesus, today I come to you broken. I know Your goodness, and I choose to worship You today. I break open my alabaster box at Your feet. I give you all I have to offer. My hurt, my trial, my circumstance I bring before You. I need Your love in this season of my life like never before. I know that the world and the enemy would tell me that this isn’t where I need to be, but this is where I choose to be. I choose to worship You today. Would you hear my cries, and would you be in the midst of my frustration/pain/loss? Thank you for being near me today. May I long for more of You in the midst of this whirlwind, amen.