Sunshine in the Haze

I miss singing praises to God in the quiet of cooking a homemade meal or while showering.

After moving away from home, singing became heartless and painful, which is crazy because I’ve always delighted in it. As a kid, I had half a notebook full of little songs I had written.

It’s not that I haven’t tried to sing again. I have. Over and over. My heart just doesn’t sing like it used to.

My voice feels strained.

My lungs feel heavy.

It feels forced.

I struggle with feeling like I’m not worshiping God “well” since it’s not as loud and sensational as it used to be. Quiet feels weak.

Through this odd time, God has been graciously showing me other ways to glorify Him and that LOUD isn’t always best. A quiet spoken word is just as mighty as song.

I say all this, not to get it off my chest—though that’s probably part of it—but to be an example for the weary hearted.

Life is full of change, so when our way of connecting with our Maker changes, it feels like the whole world has caved in.

How Will You Continue to Praise the Lord?

If you are struggling with something similar—a shift in the way you worship—take this opportunity to draw near to God in a different way.

Whether brokenheartedness has seeped into your soul and makes your old way of worship harder, or you simply have had to change your routine for a time, it’s crucial to ask yourself, how will you continue to praise God?

A beautiful morning with your Bible, highlighters, and a prayer journal is amazing, but it’s not the only way to draw near to God and thank Him for the things He has done for you and your family.

Reciting a few Psalms that hit close to home may be more vulnerable than the “sensational” prayer journal and coffee during a time of grieving.

I’m not saying that anyway of praising the Lord is better than the next, but my personal experience has proven that worship changes with the seasons… And we can find ourselves in a bad rhythm of praise that’s for show or out of guilt rather than genuine heartfelt thanksgiving.

In brokenness, you may not be able to sing, but you can kneel and contemplate the good things God has brought to completion in the past.

I used to be uncomfortable praying in spoken word versus writing it down or singing, but now I find peace in it, which helps me connect with my Father more often throughout the day.

Maybe I don’t pray and worship the same way I used to, but God still hears my every word. I believe that my soul will sing again, but until then, I hope I learn everything God wants me to during this quieter season.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, NKJV

Maybe you don’t pray and worship the same way you used to. Maybe your worship time feels a little different and uncomfy, but remember that God knows the moans of our hearts.

Know that God still hears you the same way He did before. There is no moan, no sigh, no word that goes unnoticed by your Creator.

To sum up this post, Paul said it best in Romans 8:26-28.

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

9 Ways to Worship God During Hard Times

1. Before your feet hit the ground in the morning, thank God for one of His amazing blessings.
2. Grab a notebook & every hour or two, write down one thing you are thankful for.
3. Instead of just saying a quick routine prayer over your food, be intentional.
4. With a dry erase marker, write out your favorite Psalm of thanksgiving on a mirror you look into daily.
5. When you notice your about to open social media out of boredom or anxiety, take a moment to reflect on the GOOD God is doing in YOUR life rather than hyper fixing on comparing yourself to others.
6. If you never go to the alter on Sunday, now is the time to take a deep breath and give it all to God.
7. Raise your hands in the pews when the song hits right. Even if it’s just a lifted pinky.
8. Make it a goal to tell someone everyday or every other day something good God has done for you.
9. Speak life and positivity into your life. Don’t let Satan get away with filling you with negative thought patterns.

---

Thank you so much for reading! I hope that I’ve been able to write this blog post in a way that is both relatable and helpful.

How often does your prayer or worship time change? Is it typically for the better or is it for the worst? How can you flip the script on Satan and change what he meant for evil into a stronger & more vulnerable worship time with God?

If anything was confusing, feel free to let me know in the comments! I’m definitely not the best editor. 😅