The Unstoppable Worshipper
By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor
Based on the book The Unquenchable Worshipper by Matt Redman
“The year is 1744. Hymn writer Charles Wesley is in Leeds, England, holding a prayer meeting in an upstairs room. Suddenly there is a creak in the floorboards, followed by a massive crack, and the whole floor collapses. All 100 people crash right through the ceiling in the room below. The place is in chaos—some are screaming, some are crying, some just sit in chock. But as the dust settles, Wesley, wounded and lying in a heap, cries out, “Fear not! The Lord is with us; our lives are all safe.” And then be breaks out into the Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”—perhaps a bizarre choice of song, considering what has just happened! But here’s the point: While everyone else was still licking their wounds, the heart of this unstoppable worshipper was responding with unshakable praise. (W.J. Limmer Sheppard)
I have a friend in my life who is not a Christian and is rather cynical at times when it comes to Christianity and their sometimes seemingly ‘religious’ response in times of crisis. We often hear or use words like, “God will see you through”, “just keep the faith”, “God works all things together for good”, in times of crisis when we don’t really know how else to explain what God’s doing (as if He needed use to explain His business anyway). I believe we’re pretty good about being thankful when things are going good, like we get a raise, get a new job, our kids get all A’s (or as least passing grades), when we have enough money to buy groceries, gas and have shelter, but why in the world don’t we publicly praise God when things go wrong? Is He the same God or isn’t He? I’m not saying we have to be thankful for the ‘things that go wrong’, but shouldn’t we still be thankful ‘when things go wrong’? That’s what Wesley was doing…he was praise God even when the tragedy was at its peek. He didn’t even wait until the dust cleared or he found out if everyone was alive, he immediately burst with praise for God, “from whom all blessings flow”.
“True worship often meets with opposition”. (75) Our calling to be ambassadors of God’s mercy and grace means that we acknowledge the truth about God and who he is regardless of our current circumstances. “Unstoppable worshippers let nothing hinder them in their quest to glorify God. Whatever “goliaths” come their way, they walk out onto that worship battlefield and take their chances. They do not shrink back in times of trouble, but instead raise a spirited psalm of trust and praise”. (82
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