Why I Can Refuse Fear, Wait, and Worship
We live in a world where fear and anxiety run rampant. Things change around us quickly and it’s easy to imagine the negative side of what may come next. However, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” At times we feel stuck in place, unable to leave the past and deal with the future looming around the corner. Yet it is our responsibility and privilege to spend our time trusting and waiting on God to fulfill his will in our lives.
Two songs that have blessed and encouraged me in recent months both talk about waiting on Jesus while trusting in him. The first is Trust In You by Anthony Brown and group therAPy. The other is Wait On the Lord by James Wilson. These songs speak to our faith in God when we don’t understand why we are in our current situations nor how long those situations will last.
Trust In You
Not Created For Worry, But Created For Praise
The first song, Trust in You by Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, focuses on our need to trust and worship when we are tempted with fear and anxiety. The lyrics begin,
You did not create me to worry
You did not create me to fear
Though he knew we would live in a world of trouble, Jesus did not mean for us to be anxious or fearful, instead he left us peace. Speaking of the Comforter which is his Holy Spirit we can have within us, Jesus said in John 14:2, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jesus fulfilled this promise after his ascension when he came back on the Day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit. When we are full of his Spirit, we possess its fruit which includes peace.
The song goes on to reveal why God did create us.
But You created me to worship daily
So Ima leave it all right here
As holy people of God, we are to praise and bring him glory in every situation. We are to let his light shine through us. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” We are called to be different, walking in the joy of his salvation, shining his light amidst the darkness around us. We have a sure hope and testimony the world needs to see.
Surrender To A Loving God Brings Peace
My hands are raised because I surrender
Your will is what’s best for me
I worship You because You’re Jehovah Jireh
I bow before the King of Kings
When we humble ourselves in surrender, bowing before him as Lord and King, we can do so knowing he cares for us and will take care of us. He will place us where we need to be. As 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” In fact, our trust in and surrender to his lordship must be complete in all parts of our lives. Only then can we have peace that he is directing our path. Proverbs 3:5-6 affirms this, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Another reason we can place ourselves in his hands like this is found in the third line of this verse. It calls God Jehovah Jireh which can be translated, God our Provider. This title of God found in the Old Testament is confirmed in the New Testament in Philippians 4:19 which says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The song, More Than Enough by Gary Oliver is a great one to remind us of this truth.
No Need To Cry, You're Not Alone
No more crying no more complaining
I believe Your word is true
Lord You promised never to leave me lonely
So this is what I’m going to do
We may look at our situation and feel we have a right to cry and complain. However, in Philippians chapter 2:5-8 the Bible records “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” When we remember and reflect on what he was willing to go through for us, how can we complain about what God allows us to go through? That’s why just a few verses down in verses 14-15 it instructs us, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” This becomes so much easier when we remember that, not only has he been tempted and tried as we are, but that he has also promised to walk beside us and hold us close when we are tempted and tried. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us of God’s promise in this area, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This comforting truth also reminds me of another of my favorite songs, Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone) by People & Songs featuring Josh Sherman.
For all these reasons, we can confidently sing the final refrain of Anthony Brown’s song without fear.
I will trust in You Lord
I will trust in You Lord
I will put my trust in You
William Murphy in his song, Everlasting God, asks rhetorically the question found in Psalm 27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I be afraid?” Then he proclaims that “I will wait on You, and I will trust in you.” In fact, while waiting, it declares that, “I will remain confident in this, I will see the goodness of the Lord.” In addition, he sings, “We set our hope on You, we set our hope on your love. We set our hope on the One who is the Everlasting God.” This understanding that the everlasting God is our light and our salvation who loves us and is good should bring us so much comfort when we are waiting on him in the midst of difficulties. Declaring this in faith through song or prayer ushers his Spirit into the room and into our situation.
Wait On The Lord
Wait on the Lord was written by James Wilson and Natalie Bunner and features James Wilson and Brooke Staten. It strengthens our faith and determination to wait on the Lord while trusting him. Personally, I have been praying and believing for certain things to come to pass for years and have not yet seen them manifest. This includes loved ones being saved and sicknesses being healed. At the same time, I know that God is faithful to keep his promises and his Word is true. Now I find myself in a seemingly unending time of transition where I have had to let go of the stability of the past without yet being able to grasp what God has for my future. Still, I know that Jesus is in control, his plan is perfect, and I am in his hand. Both singing this song in faith and watching the power of God manifest through the worship in the video has blessed me immensely.
Our Big God Cares About Our Smallest Need
[Verse 1]
There’s not a mountain too tall
There’s not a problem so small
That Jesus can’t resolve
In time He’ll get involved
Our God He cares about us
This first verse details how there is nothing so big God can’t handle nor so small he doesn’t care about. Sometimes it is easy for us to believe that the same God who created the mountains can do mighty acts. However, at times we have a hard time believing that he cares about the comparatively small details of our lives enough to step in when we need him to. Jesus disputed this in Matthew 6:25-32, pointing out that God, our heavenly Father, takes care of the birds and clothes the grass with beautiful flowers, yet considers us more valuable. Thus, we should have faith to trust him to clothe and feed us. In verse 33 he commands, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
[Chorus]
So wait on the Lord
Wait on the Lord
Wait on the Lord
And He’ll renew your strength
He will give us strength when we wait on him. As Isaiah 40:31 assures us, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” This verse paints a picture, not only of being given strength to endure, but also having strength to win a victorious race, living above the storm.
[Verse 2]
There’s not a night too dark
A journey too long to embark
Jesus will see you through
In time He’ll make you new
Our God He cares about us
Psalm 23 famously describes the Lord as our shepherd who walks with us, leading us in green pastures and beside still waters. Verse 4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” We know that in the dark, whether we see him or not, Jesus is protecting us. We can claim the promise of God in Jeramiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” Many translations say, “… give you a future and a hope.” In other words, it’s not over, your future is bright.
God Has Laid Out My Path To Victory, I Won't Turn Around
[Bridge]
He’s ordering,
(No matter what you going through
Right now)
He’s ordering your steps
You’ve got to wait,
You’ve got to wait
Psalms 37:23-24 assures us that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” We just have to wait to see where he leads. Travis Green sings a song called Intentional that says, “All things are working for my good. He’s intentional, never failing.” Another part says, “I don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s working for me.” This echoes the message of Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Isn’t it wonderful that we can have that confidence, knowing that all things will work out for our good? This is why we can sing the reprise boldly, defying our enemy and declaring our determination to wait on Jesus. We will not turn back from waiting for and following after Jesus.
[Reprise]
I’m gonna wait on you Jesus (x 4)
I’m not turning back now (x 4)
I’m gonna wait (x3)
Oh, oh, oh
Blessed to Confidently Trust and Wait
Everyone goes through trials and tribulations. As Christians, we are blessed to know our loving, sovereign God. These songs can increase your faith and assurance of God’s faithfulness and give you a determination to trust and wait patiently for his perfect plan to unfold.
Do you have a favorite song about trusting in God or waiting on him? Comment below with a link or a name so all who read can be blessed by it as well.
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