Seasons of Darkness Need the Singing Church
By Stephen Powell
If you were at church this past Sunday, you may have noticed that we had a little bit of a power surge, causing our computers, projector, sound system, and some other equipment to go offline all while we were in the middle of singing Holy, Holy, Holy. There was something amazing that took place and, if you were there, you experienced it. We just kept singing! In fact, I am pretty sure we began singing even louder. We didn’t let a little technical glitch hinder us and the praises of our King rang loud in a dark room.
There are seasons in our lives that are darker than others. If you aren’t in a dark season now, you may have just come out of one or you may be entering into one soon. Suffering, grief, sorrow, and pain are a part of our lives in this world. We have been learning about this in Ecclesiastes. We have heard for the past two weeks about how life, because of the fall, is full of what can often seem meaningless to us and frustrate us with its brokenness. What helps in those moments is the singing voices of the church that believes the truth though she struggles with understanding, though she needs reminding on a regular basis that we have life in Christ when all around there is death and decay.
The songs we sing teach us the truth and aid us in hiding the truth in our hearts that we may be able to recount marvelous truths when we need to remember. Consider these lyrics…
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
And…
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
There are times when it has taken all the energy we have just to be there. We need the faithful voices of the brothers and sisters we have gathered with to sing the truth as a healing balm over us.
In times of darkness, bask in the light of the glorious truth your church family is singing over you because we will not allow the shadows to quench our efforts to declare the truth, fight for belief, and pursue God’s glory.
If you were at church this past Sunday, you may have noticed that we had a little bit of a power surge, causing our computers, projector, sound system, and some other equipment to go offline all while we were in the middle of singing Holy, Holy, Holy. There was something amazing that took place and, if you were there, you experienced it. We just kept singing! In fact, I am pretty sure we began singing even louder. We didn’t let a little technical glitch hinder us and the praises of our King rang loud in a dark room.
There are seasons in our lives that are darker than others. If you aren’t in a dark season now, you may have just come out of one or you may be entering into one soon. Suffering, grief, sorrow, and pain are a part of our lives in this world. We have been learning about this in Ecclesiastes. We have heard for the past two weeks about how life, because of the fall, is full of what can often seem meaningless to us and frustrate us with its brokenness. What helps in those moments is the singing voices of the church that believes the truth though she struggles with understanding, though she needs reminding on a regular basis that we have life in Christ when all around there is death and decay.
The songs we sing teach us the truth and aid us in hiding the truth in our hearts that we may be able to recount marvelous truths when we need to remember. Consider these lyrics…
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
And…
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
There are times when it has taken all the energy we have just to be there. We need the faithful voices of the brothers and sisters we have gathered with to sing the truth as a healing balm over us.
In times of darkness, bask in the light of the glorious truth your church family is singing over you because we will not allow the shadows to quench our efforts to declare the truth, fight for belief, and pursue God’s glory.