Recently, as I sat in church worship, my body was heavy with exhaustion. Jam-packed days, chronic illness, and a lack of coffee had drained me to the point where I could barely sing. Still, I showed up, giving the Lord what I could muster, trusting Him to meet me where I was.
Not long into worship, I heard the voices of two people directly behind me. Their worship was passionate, their prayers fervent, and I could hear the tears in their voices as they cried out to the Lord. It was raw, beautiful, and full of surrender. At that moment, I was instantly reminded of the worshippers in the book of Joshua—the ones who went ahead of the group, worshipping and preparing the way for others to enter into the presence of the Lord.
In Joshua 6, as the Israelites faced the seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho, God’s strategy was surprising. He instructed priests, carrying trumpets and the Ark of the Covenant, to lead the people. These worshippers were at the forefront of the procession, declaring the presence and power of God through their worship. Their role wasn’t to fight with weapons but to usher in victory through obedience and praise. When they faithfully worshipped as God commanded, the walls of Jericho fell, and the Israelites experienced a miraculous triumph.
It hit me—those worshippers behind me were just like the ones in Joshua (maybe without the trumpets and the walls of Jericho). Their worship wasn’t just for themselves; it was creating space for the body to encounter the Lord. Their prayers and praise were ushering me into His presence when I couldn’t seem to get there on my own.
Within moments, I felt something shift. My exhaustion and silence turned to weeping and fervent prayer. I entered a sacred place of worship with the Lord, feeling renewed and strengthened in a way I desperately needed.
The most humbling part? I don’t know these people. I never turned around to see who they were. But their worship—offered in obedience and surrender—ministered to me and gave me the breakthrough I didn’t even realize I was longing for.
This moment reminded me of an essential truth: when you operate in the gifts God has given you, you impact the people around you—even if you never speak to them, even if you never see the results. Just as the worshippers in Joshua paved the way for a supernatural victory, your obedience to use your gifts can transform the atmosphere and create opportunities for others to encounter God.
So, I want to encourage you today: keep using your gifts. Worship passionately, teach boldly, serve faithfully, or create joyfully—whatever it is that God has called you to do. Even when you can’t see how it’s helping others, know that God is using it in ways you may never fully understand. Your faithfulness has a ripple effect, touching hearts, changing lives, and ushering others into the presence of the Lord. Keep going. It matters more than you know.
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