Happy fall! It’s almost sweater weather, and I can’t wait! I love everything about this season. From watching football, to sitting by a bonfire and sipping hot apple cider, to enjoying hayrides and seeing richly colored leaves, this is my favorite time of year! 

Fall usually lifts my spirits, but several years ago that wasn’t the case. One rainy October day, I hit an all-time low. I had pulled into the parking lot at a local coffee shop, feeling hopeless and depressed. The depression had been ongoing and had gotten worse. I was even having thoughts of suicide. I knew I should reach out to someone and decided to call a friend. Fortunately, she answered right away. 

As we talked, my dear friend offered encouragement, and she also prayed with me. After we hung up, I sat in my car, continuing to pray. I started feeling a little better and decided to go in to order a latte. While walking inside, I looked down and noticed a yellow, heart-shaped leaf. It seemed as if God had placed it there just for me. Seeing that heart enabled me to feel His presence. 

Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be okay. That day, when I hit rock bottom, is just one of many examples I could share of times when I was not okay. Thankfully, God is always there. I know He loves me. He is a mighty Savior, and ultimately, I can abide in Him. Even when I’m feeling low, He is a good Father, worthy of being worshipped.

This past Sunday, Pastor Chris, shared the message, “Worship is Our Response.” He explained that worship is not just singing, although that is one way to express it. He also shared that according to Louie Giglio, “Worship is our response to the revelation of God in our lives.” Think about that for a moment. The revelation of God in our lives is a miraculous thing. I think He reveals Himself to us in big and small ways. Outside the coffee shop on that rainy afternoon, He revealed Himself to me with a simple leaf. 

Our Almighty God is powerful. Psalm 95:3-5 shows us just how powerful our He is. “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

Do you get that? From the deepest parts of the oceans to the highest mountain tops, our God created it all. He is THAT powerful. If we abide in Him, how can worship not be our response? We serve a wonderful Lord and Savior. He is worthy of our praise, even on our lowest days. 

Whether you are at a low point, or on cloud nine, soaking up all the good things that this season has to offer, I pray you abide in Him. He loves you so much! The definition of abide is to remain, continue, and stay. I hope you’ll remain steadfast by worshipping the Lord. Regardless, if you are bowing on your knees in prayer or simply in your car crying out from the depths of depression, He is there, ever-present, loving you. God is worthy of our worship. 

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…” – Psalm 95:6-7

Simply abide in Him. He deeply cares, and He delights in you!  May you see and feel His presence, even in the tiniest details - maybe even by seeing a leaf.