From My Heart…
Corporate Worship Puts Our Sorrows Into Perspective
By Byron Garmo, President
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
It’s one thing to suffer alongside others. It’s an entirely different thing to suffer alone. As humans, we tend to suffer alone. And in our technology-driven world, aloneness does not necessarily indicate a lack of company. Even in the presence of others, how often we silently cope with daily struggles and unnerving news by disappearing into our smart devices. We disappear in search of something—anything—to distract us from our problems.
Considering our weaknesses, we ought to do what the Sons of Korah did in Psalm 46. They came together to speak and sing the truth. Bad news and worship may seem like an odd pairing. But in the truth of God’s word, it’s remarkable how the latter consumes the former. Worship with truth puts difficult news into perspective.
The consolation we receive in the company of other believers is more precious than a million notifications on our mobile devices. I am not suggesting an “all or nothing” view of technology; it can and should be used for the glory of God. But I am cautioning that it’s too easy for us to slip into a false sense of refuge by looking to our smart devices when difficult news hits—and not going first to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Distraction is not a substitute for relationship. Nor is worship a substitute for distraction. Rather, corporate worship puts our sorrows into perspective—the eternal consumes the temporal. By God’s grace, through corporate worship we find courage to face the hard realities of life. We must face these hard realities together on the foundation of God’s word.
Practically, that means we ought to prioritize corporate worship services over private church events on our mobile phones. Instead of buying everything online, it’s time to go into the store so that we can stand in line, buy our groceries, and rub shoulders with people who need encouragement and truth.
And it’s time for us believers to stop acting like the world is closing in on us. It’s time for believers to start living in the truth that God’s kingdom is in fact … flourishing. God’s grace will not allow us to remain shaken by today’s news. Yes, we may be shaken at first (and we should have compassion for those who are hurting). Yet our refuge is God.
On this side of Christ’s return, peace is not the absence of violence or calamity, but the presence of justice through Christ’s accomplished work on the cross. Just as the famous Bill Gaither sang, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” That’s still true for us today.
Meditate on this: The God who inspired Psalm 46:1 is the same God who inspired Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
