Worship Your Way Out

Nov 8

So … what is that wise and tested prescription that will enable us to fight against the onslaught and the emotional damage that depression inflicts upon an unsuspecting person’s mind and heart?

What is it?

Let’s review …

* - See your medical doctor.

* - Talk to a trained, professional counselor.

* - Read your Bible every day. Memorize a verse a month or a verse a week.

* - Worship! Worship Loudly! Worship Often!

But let me just say … I am not done giving you your healing instructions about the commitment to worship just yet.

Would you allow me tutor you on a deeper level concerning how the choice to worship has the exciting power to cleanse your thought life … holds the divine prescription that will heal your emotions … and … has the definite possibility of changing the very way that you process your situations?

Would you?!

I believe that breaking out in song and worshipping the Lord, in spite of one’s circumstances, is a theme in Scripture from Genesis through Revelation.

Joseph honored God even in prison …

Moses worshipped the Lord when everyone else was grumbling and complaining …

Joshua had to choose worship the Lord when facing the walls of Jericho …

Ruth worshipped the Lord even during her grief …

Hannah worshipped the Lord as she left her little boy at the temple …

Samuel worshipped the Lord when separated from his family …

Esther fasted and worshipped when her entire people group was about to be slaughtered …

Job worshipped the Lord at the worst moment of his life …

David worshipped the Lord while in the depths of despair …

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego danced for joy in the fiery furnace …

Daniel worshipped the Lord in the den of lions …

But the story that I love most of all is the account of King Jehoshaphat as told in II Chronicles 20.

King Jehoshaphat and his nation of Judah were being attacked by three enemy nations that were ferocious and vicious fighters. The enemy forces that were coming toward Judah possessed overwhelming numerical superiority.

Have you ever been attacked by something that you knew you were absolutely no match for? Cancer? Divorce? Addiction?

The military forces of the nation of Judah were absolutely no match for the armies that were invading their land. In the natural, there was no way that Judah could win … they were about to be slaughtered!

Have you ever felt like you were about to be absolutely slaughtered by depression? By discouragement? By bitterness? By anger?

King Jehoshaphat gathered the entire population of his country and they sought help from the Lord!

“So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.” – II Chronicles 20:4

They didn’t “google” how to destroy a massive army … they didn’t post their despair on social media … they didn’t pull out the tissues and buy chocolate!

This desperate nation and this wise king sought help from the Lord!

The Bible tells us that they fasted … they prayed … they gathered in the house of the Lord … and they declared that their eyes were not on the enemy nations but their eyes were on the Lord!

And then what did this soon-to-be-annihilated people group do next?

What do you do when you are all out of options … when your circumstances refuse to change … and when you know that you are about to be defeated?

What do you do?! I believe that you should do what King Jehoshaphat and the entire nation of Judah did at the worst moment of their life!

“They stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice!” – II Chronicles 20:19

Now remember … these people didn’t know what was going to happen next! All they knew was that they were in serious trouble!

They were wondering if their homes were going to be pillaged … if their livestock was going to be destroyed … if their wives and daughters were going to be raped and murdered.

In the natural – they didn’t see any reason to praise the Lord but they worshipped Him in spite of their emotional pain and fear!

I can do no less at the worst moment of my life!

As believers in Jesus Christ, we must not allow our circumstances to steal our song!

We must not allow depression to deprive us of the healing power of worship!

You will not “think” your way out of a battle … you will not “eat” your way out of destruction … you will not “shop” your way to victory … you will not “weep” your way to advantage.

You will worship your way out of the battle!

You will worship with a very loud voice!

I remember one Sunday morning when I was in deep, deep emotional pain. My world seemed to be crashing in around me and there was absolutely nothing I could do to change my heart-breaking circumstances. As I stood in the congregation with 100’s of others, I decided to lift my hands to heaven even though I didn’t “feel” like it in the natural.

The worship team was between songs … and suddenly … one of the team members with a powerful, soaring voice broke out into “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”!! The congregation listened while she touched heaven with her worship.

I remember thinking, “Do I believe that?! Do I believe … in the deepest part of me … that God is faithful?!”

And although I was weeping … I knew that I knew that I knew that I did believe.

I believe that my God is faithful even when I am being attacked on all sides.

I determined in that dark, yet promising moment, that I would sing in spite of my pain.

I would sing in spite of my hurt.

I would sing in spite of my questions.

I would sing!

What will you do?

I can’t sing for you … only you can make that choice … but I can guarantee you that you will never regret your decision to worship in spite of deep emotional pain.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls!” - I Peter 1:6-9

Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!

Carol McLeod

Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN. A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers. Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain. She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY. Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN. A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers. Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain. She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY. Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!

Worship Your Way Out

You! Are! Doing! It!

The Power of Worship