Worship as a response is much more likely to happen naturally. Worshiping in anticipation does not always come naturally, it takes time to become a habit. It can be hard to look forward to the good times when everything around seems to be falling apart. It can also be a temptation to forget the hard times exist when everything is going well. Remembering both future hope and past hardship helps us to worship in all seasons.

Hope That Sings

“So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy.” John 16:22

“In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

In John 16, Jesus speaks right into the hard and grieving times. He promises not only that hardships will come, but that He is above them and will bring His people through them. It can be easy to become so blinded by grief and pain to realize the promise God makes of great joy. Remember the things God has already brought you through. As you feel hopeless, as you feel lost, remember the last time you felt similar and think on how God made a way and gave you hope. Dwell in that hope and worship God for what is to come. Jesus has overcome the world and all its tribulations. That gives you the freedom to be confident and filled with an unstealable joy. When you are in the midst of your hardships, do not idly by, stand and worship. Stand in the hard times, but look to the good that God has done and what He promises to bring.

Faith That Remembers

“I will [solemnly] remember the deeds of the Lord; Yes, I will [wholeheartedly] remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your works And thoughtfully consider all Your [great and wondrous] deeds. Your way, O God, is holy [far from sin and guilt]. What god is great like our God?” Psalm 77:11-13

“The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever — Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.” Psalm 138:8

You may not think to worship in anticipation for the seasons of confusion. It is important to continually remind yourself of the constant, that is God’s love and grace. The psalmists were keen on remembering the great things God had done. The book of Psalms are full of giving thanks to God in remembrance. They do this in a variety of circumstances, in the easiest and hardest of times. King David especially shows how through his confusion, he still worships God even with no end in sight. Through all the confusion, he worshiped continually. Most likely, David did not start worshiping in the confusing times, he built the habit of reminding himself of God’s faithfulness well before. It was that continual reminder of God’s faithfulness that aided him when he was being hunted, after the death of his child, and the rebellion led against him. Strive for that same faith in God as David, the man after God’s own heart, but do not wait for confusing seasons to begin, start building up that faith long before.

Habits That Endure

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” Daniel 6:1

Worship can come naturally in seasons of blessing, but maybe only in response. While that is good, it is important to remember that hardship is may be right around the corner. Enjoy the good times, but do not wait for the hard times to prepare. We must have the word of God dwell in us at all times resulting in worship, which is much easier in the good times. Worship in the easier times so as to build storehouses of faith for when it gets harder. We see an excellent example of this in the life of Daniel. Even after it became illegal to pray and to worship God, he went into his house and does it anyway, not because it was easy, but because worship had become habit to him. Daniel did not fear the circumstances around him, but did as he had previously done and worshiped God. Make the most of the seasons when worship comes easily so it flows naturally even in the hard.