HOW to Look for Answers, not "Where" -

Everyone has questions. We all have things that we would like to have answers to in this life. We all ask why. We have all experienced injustice and we have all come to know that life is not fair. At the end of the day, Jesus is the answer- He truly is! Even if that sounds oversimplified, the fact is that if the entire world loved the Lord and sought to serve Him and be like Him, many of our griefs and troubles would fade away. As the old hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” It’s true! Jesus said, “And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32)

Even so, knowing that Jesus is the answer is sometimes easier said than lived, isn’t it? We all lose our way. We all experience seasons of seeing “through a glass darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12) where our feelings and emotions cloud everything and we can’t see our way forward. How do you break out of a season like that? How do you push past your feelings and walk by faith? You CRY OUT. Psalm 34:17 promises that, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” But what do you cry? There is no right or wrong way to cry out to the Lord- bring Him ALL OF IT. He can handle it, I promise! (Plus, He already knows about it so don’t hold back!)

The answers you’re seeking are not found based on where you’re looking, but how you are looking.

Here’s is what I am crying out, right now, and I believe the Lord wants me to share it with you because He has the answers to your questions and if you can’t find them, He wants you to how to look for them (notice I didn’t say “where” to look, but HOW…!)

“Send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill, and to Your dwelling place. Then I will go to the altar of God, to the God of my joyful gladness; with the harp I will give thanks to You, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:3-4)

Did you see that? His light and His truth will lead you- if you allow them too. You have the light of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit within you. You have the truth of His Word. You have what you need! But are you allowing them to lead you? That is not the same thing has just having them at your disposal! Where will they lead you? Into the presence of the Lord! Into His dwelling place- that’s worship! (Psalm 22:3) “Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling place…” And then? “Then I will go to the altar of God, to the God of my joyful gladness, with the harp I will give thanks to You, O God, my God.” Wow! The simplest and hardest thing you will ever come to realize about what you’re walking through is this: The answers you’re seeking are not found based on where you’re looking, but how you are looking. [Read this next: “Are You Looking or Seeking?”]

Thought for today

Praise and worship are not the after party for a happy ending. They are what you do before, during and after. Praise and worship shouldn’t look much different before your answers come than after. Why? Because the point of origin for worship is gratitude, thanksgiving. Beforehand, your worship isn’t begging, it’s exalting and thanksgiving in faith. During, when the heat and pressure are multiplied, your worship isn’t about rescue, it’s about thanksgiving- in faith! And after? Thanksgiving to the faithful God! If you struggling to “enter in” to praise and worship, seek His light and His truth, they will lead your heart to a place of gratitude that is much deeper than you’ve gone before, from a place that exists outside of life’s temporary troubles and shifting sand, a timeless place where thanksgiving never ceases.

True worship is exclusively God-focused and God-centered – CRY OUT to the Lord. Ask Him to “send out Your light and Your truth” and let them lead you. They’ll take you exactly where you need to be and your search will be over.