Blog

September 3, 2020

God’s Got This

God’s got you. You are not alone. God’s got you and God isn’t afraid of your fears and wonderings, your anger and questions, your weariness.

Dear Pastor, Worship Leader or Planner, 

I see you. 

I hear you. 

God’s got this. 

I see you. I see how hard you are working. I see all the additional work that is on your plate. I see you responding in patience and love to the multitude of requests and unsolicited advice. I see you beginning to think about Advent and Christmas worship wondering if the plans you make will actually happen. I see the tiredness in your eyes. 

I hear you. I hear the pain in your voice as you know that with every decision you make someone will be unhappy. I hear how much it hurts to not be able to lead everyone in worship like we did before. I hear how many of you desire to be able to sing in full voice and unmasked but cannot do so at this time. I hear you as you discern how best to lead in the sacraments. I hear you westling with how to faithfully preach the gospel and lead in prayer in a divided world overflowing with injustice, poverty, displaced peoples, pain, anger, fear, death. I hear you as you wrestle with how to help your congregation recover from derechos, hurricanes, tornados, fires, draught, flood, and locusts. I hear you wondering what the physical, spiritual, and emotional impact of all this trauma will be and if you are equipped to meet those needs.

But God’s got this. Yes, I know that seems like bumper-sticker theology but it is true. And it is that truth that needs to undergird your life right now as it is only in that truth that you will be able to find any rest. 

More than that, God’s got you. You are not alone. God’s got you and God isn’t afraid of your fears and wonderings, your anger and questions, your weariness. Bring all of it to God. Sometimes we think before we spend time with God we need to get a plan together, find the right spot, the right time, be in the right mood. Don’t wait for all of that. Right now, at this time, simply stop and tell God exactly what you are feeling. Hand everything over to God. Read God’s Word and reflect on it. Then rest. Rest in the silence and listen. Then when you are aware of God’s presence and only then, return to the work to which you have been called. Do this as often as you need to in order to be reminded that God’s got this and God’s got you. 

DIGGING DEEPER

Rev. Joyce Borger is senior editor of Reformed Worship and a resource development specialist at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. She has worked in the area of worship for over 20 years and has served as editor of several musical collections, including Psalms for All Seasons, and Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2011, 2013). She is an ordained minister, teaches worship courses at Kuyper College, leads worship at her church, and serves as co-chair of the church's worship committee.