After a hard workout, you’re sore. You hurt. You’re stiff. The last thing you want to do is move. But the best thing to do when your muscles are sore is to get up and to move into the soreness!

After a hard day or season of life, we hurt. We’re sore to the touch. We don’t want to move. We’re without vision and motivation. Without energy and strength. But the best thing to do when we are sore from life’s circumstances is also to get up and to move into the soreness. How? By moving in worship.

Worship is movement. It is the movement of our thoughts and emotions and actions onto or towards God. We are moved to and in worship.

In worship, our heart responds to the movement of God towards us in eternal love. In worship we respond to who God is. We gaze upon his beauty and taste of his goodness. In worship we respond to what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. We receive of his abiding mercy and abounding grace. In worship we move towards God rather than away from him. And as we wait upon him our strength is renewed—our strength is exchanged for his strength.

God reminds us, “I am not looking for what you think I can use. I am looking for what you think I can’t use. I’m not interested in the much or the impressive, but in the little and unimpressive. What you think is of no value or significance to me because it’s small and broken. I’m not looking at what you have, but at what you lack.”

However sore or weak you are from life’s circumstances, God’s goodness can overflow, overwhelm, and overcome all. He is watching over you.

Move, then. Lift your eyes, your arms, and your heart in praise. Bend your knees or rise to your feet in worship. You’re sore, you’re hurting, but move into the soreness. God will exchange your weakness for his strength as you wait upon him, as you move towards him. He has already taken the first step. He is moving towards you. He is waiting for you.