I’m reading through the Bible in a Year (although at this stage it’ll possibly be more like two years!), and this morning, I hit the book of Job… (deep inhale). Job is a challenging and thought-provoking book full of deep questions, grief and anguish through suffering – something I’m sure we’re all familiar with and have grappled with before.

In the opening chapter, Job is struck with all sorts of disasters, affecting his family, his livestock and his livelihood, and yet this is His response:

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship” (Job 1:20) 

I can safely say that my first response in times of suffering is not usually to humble myself and fall to the ground in worship – anyone else with me? But I so wish it was! There is something so powerful about still declaring that God is Lord, that He has good purposes for us, and that “the name of the Lord may be praised” (Job 1:21b) in spite of our sufferings! I truly believe that a place of worship is where God strengthens, sustains, encourages and reveals Himself to us, giving us power through His Spirit to endure suffering. And this extends to our congregations too! As we sing in worship together, we encourage the congregations we serve to declare God’s name over their situations, and usher in God’s Spirit to do His work in their hearts to sustain them too. Perhaps this is why songs like ‘Bless God’ and ‘You hold it all together’ are carrying so much power at the moment – because they speak into the suffering many of us are encountering, and bring us to a place where we can declare God’s Sovereignty over them.

So, can I encourage you to bring your situation and your suffering to God in worship today – whatever that looks like. He is more than able to carry that with you, and worship has such a unique ability to open us up to surrendering those things to Him. In turn, my prayer is that you would receive God’s help, His encouragement and support in whatever you’re carrying, and that you would be able to declare “may the name of the Lord be praised”!