Challenging Worship During The Worst

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20-22 ESV)

This scene of Job’s right heart toward God is beautiful. Even stricken with grief, he worshiped.

What anguished him was the devastating news he received from four messengers in rapid succession. They brought him the news as follows:

• First Messenger: The Sabeans have plundered your oxen and donkeys, and have killed your servants with swords.
• Second Messenger: A fire storm of some caliber fell from heaven, consuming your sheep and servants.
• Third Messenger: Three groups of Chaldeans raided your camels and killed the servants who were with them.
• Fourth Messenger: Your sons and daughters were enjoying each other’s company when a freak wind storm destroyed the house they were in, crushing them dead.

Any one of these messages would have been difficult in their own right, but imagine receiving this news all at once. He simultaneously lost nearly everything he had, from property to his children, and was left with little more than himself and the clothes on his back.

How did Job respond?

He “fell on the ground and worshiped.” He worshiped God through His right heart, without sinning.

Often, we don’t think of worship as anymore than more singing songs at church. But let us learn to worship God always as Job did, especially in the hard times.

Remember, our hearts are never so honest as when we are in the midst of trying circumstances. How will the Lord find our hearts in difficult situations?

Worship God with the knowledge that He is unchangeably good, even in the worst moments of our lives.