Worship While We Wait

There are some people here this morning who are right in the middle of those long, uncertain stretches of life, wondering if anything is ever going to change. I’ve experienced times in my life when the weight of unanswered prayers and seemingly unchangeable circumstances, felt unbearable. And I know that what I needed was a reminder of the importance of worshipping, while I waited. It’s easy to get mad at God. There have been a few moments—even while I’ve been pastoring here—that I’ve been mad at God. I knew it was the wrong attitude to have. But I couldn’t help myself. God’s “perfect” plan, didn’t feel so perfect anymore. It felt like He forgot about me. It felt like He had other people to worry about, and I was slipping through the cracks. Looking back, I can clearly see He was always in control. But in the middle of it, I couldn’t see it, And if I’m being honest, it got to the point where I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to see it.

Now, if you think this is going to be one of those, “God is sooo good you should just forget about your pain” sermons. You’re wrong. I want to start by saying, Your pain is real. I’m not here to discredit your pain and suffering. Your pain is real, but so is God. I want this sermon this morning to be a reminder. That God, the creator of this universe. Who simply spoke everything into existence loves you, and wants to hear from you, even when every part of life feels overwhelming. If you’re like me, it feels like I’ve got no business having the ability to directly communicate with the creator of it all. Who am I, that you are mindful of, me?

But we’re told, to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we do that, when we live that out, that’s worship. A lot of the time we think of worship as singing songs on a Sunday morning. Or a genre of music written by Elevation, Hillsong, or Bethel. While those are expressions of worship, the concept is much broader. Worship is the act of giving our whole selves to God. It’s the act of seeking His face. It is a deliberate, heartfelt response to the reality of who God is, and what he’s done. It’s a response that can be expressed through praise, but can also be expressed through prayer, thanksgiving, and even honest conversations about our doubts and fears. Worship is about fixing our eyes on God, acknowledging His sovereignty in every circumstance, and choosing to trust Him, even when we’re waiting for answers. And that’s what I mean when I say, Worship While We Wait.

We all know what it means to wait. Kids are not very good at waiting. I remember there was some controversy about a test that was done in the 70s. Where kids were put in a room with a single marshmallow. And told them if they can wait 15 minutes and not eat that marshmallow, they can have 2 marshmallows instead. The person running the test would leave the room and leave the kid with the marshmallow in their hand. More often than not, before the person doing the test came back in the room with the second marshmallow, they had already eaten the first one. I think they tried to prove the kids who waited did better in life, but that's heavily debated, it seems. Anyway, that is beside the point. The point I’m making is: No one likes to wait. We’re like those kids: If we can have 1 marshmallow now, why wait for 2, later?

But there’s some of us here today who feel like after what they’ve gone through, they’d be happy with even one marshmallow. Sometimes the waiting feels endless. And we start to ask ourselves: “Why isn’t God answering my prayers?” “What is the point of worship if my situation isn’t changing?” In Psalm 27 David struggles with these same thoughts. In verse 8, he shows the true nature of worship, “Seeking the face of God” But he’s saying, “I’m doing what you want, so where are you” But then, later in the same Psalm, he reminds himself that he needs to wait. Here let me show you:

Psalm 27:7-8 - 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

We don’t know exactly when these words were written. Some think it was in the middle of his troubles before coming to the throne. Or when his parents died. Or it’s possible it was from when he was older. Either way David wasn’t suggesting that waiting is passive or meaningless. His point was to prepare ourselves. If you’re going to wait, you need to be strong and courageous. When our hearts are filled with doubt, worship helps us focus on God’s unchanging character rather than our individual circumstances. Even though we don’t know exactly what David was going through when he wrote this. We know about David’s life, we know some of the struggles he went through. His life wasn’t all unicorns, lollipops, and butterflies. Knowing that, it’s clear he was probably in the middle of uncertainty, and his call to “wait for the Lord” reminds us that worship isn’t about ignoring pain. It’s about finding strength in the middle of it.

If you’re thinking, “That’s easier said than done” I hear you, and you’re right, it is. I’m not promising a magical fix. That’s happened before, and I believe God could do it again, but I’m not saying that if you’re strong and courageous, you’re going to see a miracle. But if you can keep your focus on God instead of our immediate pain, that can help sustain us. That can help keep us going, even when our circumstances don’t seem to change.

David is one example of someone who waited, but the Bible is full of examples. Job is an obvious one. Job experienced incomprehensible loss, His wealth, family, and health were all stripped away. But his response to all of that was a powerful declaration of trust.

Job 1:21 - 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.”

Job was right, that’s why you don’t see Hearses towing a U-Haul trailer on the way to the graveyard. We’re all leaving with what we came in with. Maybe you’re thinking, “Where are you going with this?,” “How does this have anything to do with worship?,” Job’s example shows that worship is not about denying pain. It’s an honest acknowledgment that every blessing, and every trial, comes from God. Job blessed the name of the Lord in the middle of his suffering. He trusted in God’s sovereign plan, even when the results were not immediate, or, when they weren’t what he wanted them to be.

Another lesser-known example comes from the end of Luke 2. Jesus, as a baby, is brought by His parents to the temple, and a man named Simeon heard from the Holy Spirit that he would see the Christ in his lifetime. And Simeon blessed Jesus and appointed Him for the work he was going to do. Then we’re told about someone else:

Luke 2:36-38 - 36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna had devoted her life to worship and prayer, she waited expectantly in the temple for God’s plan of redemption to unfold. She didn’t know exactly what that was going to look like. And she probably wasn’t expecting it to come in the form of a baby. But either way, Anna didn’t sit by twiddling her thumbs, lying around waiting, her life was an active display of devotion. She fasted, prayed, and continually praised God, even though she hadn’t seen any result of her worship for years and years. Even in the long, uncertain wait, Her commitment to worship shows that devotion deepens our relationship with God. It fuels our hope. Even when it seems like God is moving in slow motion.

I know some of you might be thinking, “This all sounds wonderful in theory, but my situation is way more complicated. How can singing a song or reading the Bible really change what I’m going through?” These are valid questions, and they deserve honest answers. Worship isn’t a magic fix It’s not a magic formula that instantly solves all our problems. Worship isn’t about erasing pain, it’s about transforming our inner life. And the way we live. Paul reminds us in:

Philippians 4:6-7 - 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I think I’ve said this before on a Sunday. The main point of these verses is not, don’t worry, or don’t be anxious. It’s more about what our response to the worry or anxiety should be, we should be bringing our requests to Him. The peace that these verses mention doesn’t mean our circumstances change overnight, The peace protects our hearts and minds, it allows us to endure, and even potentially grow through our trials.

Maybe you’re thinking, “That sounds good, but it’s hard for me to even pretend that God cares about me with all I’m going through” It’s okay to admit doubt, a lot of people in the Bible wrestled with uncertainty. David and Job experienced moments of deep questioning. Worship isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being honest with God. Lay it all out, let him have it, He’s strong enough, He can take it. Tell him all your doubts and fears. Imagine having a friend, who you only talked to when things were good. What kind of a friend are you, if you’re not willing to tell your friend what you’re going through? If you’re not comfortable enough to say whatever is on your mind to them? It should be no different with God.

“But, you don’t understand; I’ve been waiting for so long, what if nothing ever changes?” Worship isn’t solely about changing our external situations, it’s about changing our internal perspective. When we choose to worship, we’re reminded that our identity and hope are found in God, not in our circumstances.

So, how do we put this into practice?

Start with the Bible.

Start your day with a devotional. Or maybe a Bible reading plan. Find something that works for you, and let’s make sure we’re reading the Bible.

Pray.

Talk to God. All throughout your day, talk to Him. Be honest with Him about your doubts and fears. These aren’t difficult things, and they’re not new ideas either. But they help. Do you know what else helps?

Write Things Down.

Whatever works for you, write down moments when you’ve seen God at work, even the smallest things. As I get older, I’m sure I’ll remember my wedding day or the day I got to meet each of my kids. But what I start to forget is the little things. So now, I take a picture of something so I remember. That way, I know the day and time and even the location.And sometimes, I write something down in the notes app on my phone. It’s helpful when I go back and look at those pictures or notes to remember where I’ve been and how I’ve got to the point I’m at now. It’s kind of like how we can read the stories of David, Job, or Anna in the Bible and then learn from what they went through and what they did along the way.

Now, let’s talk about why we’re all here this morning. It’s possible we’re all here this morning for very different reasons. Maybe the main reason you got in a vehicle this morning to come to church was to connect with God. It’s also possible, you came looking to connect with other Christians. Maybe you’re here because you’re looking for some guidance in your life. If we’re honest some of us out here because of tradition. That’s just what you do on Sunday mornings. You might have been invited here by someone else Or because, for whatever reason, you felt like going to church was the right thing to do. Whatever the reason, you’re here. And that's a good thing because Christianity isn’t meant to be a solo sport.

We’re made to be in community. I’ve just spent the last 4 weeks at youth talking about our need for community. When you’re struggling, when you’re going through it, when you’re in pain. It helps to have someone with you. It makes a difference knowing you’ve got people who care about you, taking your needs to God. Worship is a communal act. Being part of a community that sings, prays, and supports one another can help us see that even in our individual struggles, there is collective hope and strength.

And yet, I know there are people here today who are desperate, they’re struggling, they’re in pain, and they don’t know how much longer they can keep going, they might even be sitting right next to you. But they don’t want anyone else to know about it, they don’t want anyone feeling bad for them, They don’t want sympathy, they don’t want attention. If you keep it to yourself, you’re robbing yourself of true community. There are some real “prayer warriors” in our church. There are people who are desperate to pray with you, and for you, but we hold back.

Why? Fear Privacy Embarrassment Skepticism Pride Look at this, we’re all here now, what a perfect opportunity to use this time together, to live out the middle C in our church’s name.

As I wrap up, remember, worship isn’t reserved solely for good times or special occasions. It’s a lifestyle.

When you choose to worship while you wait, you declare that your hope is anchored in God’s character and promises, not in your fleeting circumstances. This isn’t about denying reality, it’s about affirming that God’s ways are higher than ours and that His love endures through every season of life. Even when you’re skeptical and uncertain, every act of honest worship is a powerful step of faith, a declaration that your hope rests in a God who is faithful and true.

When I’m done this morning, we’re going to move into our prayer for needs time. But before we do, I want us to just pause for a bit. I want us to spend a moment, doing a bit of an inventory of our lives. If you came here this morning in pain, come to God. If you came here this morning sick, come to God. If you’re afraid of what people might think about you if you go up for prayer, give that to God. If you’re holding back because of pride, give that to God. If you’re holding on to any skepticism or doubts, give that to God.

When I’m done, I’ll pray, then band is going to play. That will be your cue. If you’re waiting, for a loved one to get better, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for a job, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for someone to come back to the Lord, come to the front. If you’re waiting, to make a big life decision, come to the front. If you’re waiting, to break out of your depressed state, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for a test result, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for a child, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for healing, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for your anxiety and panic attacks to subside, come to the front. If you’re waiting, for a renewed relationship with God, come to the front. If you’re waiting, to forgive someone, come to the front.

When you come to the front, what will happen is: Your community will surround you. They will be praying with you, and for you. If you’re not waiting, then here’s your role: You need to stretch yourself and come up and pray with our community. No one is exempt here. If someone is bold enough to walk down to the front to ask for prayer, you’ve got to be just as bold and walk right down to pray with them.

Remember, even when the wait seems unbearable. Keep worshiping, when the doubt starts to take over. Keep worshiping. Worship transforms our inner life, shifting our focus from our immediate struggles to the eternal truth of God’s promises. Every moment you choose to trust and worship, in the middle of your uncertainty, is a powerful declaration, that your hope rests in a God. Who is faithful and true.