Worship When it Doesn't Make Sense

 

"But about midnight Paul and silas were praying their songs of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them..." - Acts 16:25

It doesn't make sense to me; trying to go over an elevated bar with a pole...upside down!  But if ever there was someone that would not be bothered by this prospect, it is our middle son, Isaac, pictured above learning the pole vault.  There is a lot to learn, but he loves it!

And if ever there were a time that didn't make sense to worship, it was Paul and Silas in the deepest, darkest, and smelliest part of the prison, feet in stocks, hands in chains, backs lacerated from a previous beating, the darkest part of the night, watched by a jailer!  Their situation was precarious at best. Why were they, "praying their songs"?  It just doesn't make sense.

I'll admit that in today's world, it still doesn't make sense. I often feel like many others who believe in a loving, powerful, and present God (head knowledge) but are dealing with massive uncertainty when it comes to employment, health, and racial tension and isolation from the church. Many current events don't compel us to worship (heart expression).  We feel like it is dark, and it is hopeless and we are trapped in prisons of anxiety, fear, and even abuse.

However, maybe it is more important than ever to worship in the middle of these current events at exactly the point when it doesn't make sense.  After all, worship is the way that connects our head to our heart.  We see this for Paul and Silas as they pray (head knowledge) their songs (heart expression). There is no separation of these events, it is one act of worship! Worship is a way that God connects what we know about God (in our brains) to what we feel about God (in our hearts).

Singing our prayers has less to do about our circumstances as it does about the one who infuses our circumstances with peace and even joy to the point where our lives become a witness not only to us of who God really is, but also to others who are listening to us just as they were listening to Paul and Silas pray their songs. Now more then ever, the world needs to hear the good news of our Lord and Savior!

Worship is the way we can once again connect our brains and our hearts to the the love and the power and the presence of God and it is a way for others to be encouraged to do the same in their lives.  Certainly, we should praise God when we experience joy in our circumstances, but we should also pray our songs when our circumstances don't make sense.