Dear First Baptist Family,
When I was a kid, I loved hearing in worship the song titled In This Very Room.
In this very room there’s quite enough love for one like me,
And in this very room there’s quite enough joy for one like me,
And there’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,
For Jesus, Lord Jesus … is in this very room.
And in this very room there’s quite enough love for all of us…
And in this very room there’s quite enough joy for all the world….
And there’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,
For Jesus, Lord Jesus … is in this very room.
I always thought the song was about worship, because I always heard it in a worship setting. But the backstory from the writer and composer, Ron Harris, suggests something different.
The story goes that Ron was working as an orchestra conductor for a show in New Orleans while lodging in a big, old, lonely room at the Fairmont Hotel. One particular night after a show, he went back to his room and called home to his wife and children in Los Angeles. He ached to be with them.
After hanging up the phone, Ron turned off the lights and tried to go to sleep. He felt exceptionally lonely. Then, out of nowhere, in that pitch-dark room, the ideas for In This Very Room came to him.
It’s a song first and foremost about experiencing the presence of God in whatever room you might find yourself in. A hospital room. A funeral parlor. A bedroom in a quiet house.
Ron’s beautiful words remind us that God has enough love, joy, hope, and power to chase away our greatest loneliness and sorrow.
In what ways do we find God’s presence in the rooms of our lives?
Room to Mourn
Some people have been taught that the Christian life makes no room for sadness and gives no permission to mourn. There’s no space for lament. Some Christians justify such a belief by quoting Bible verses, such as Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NIV).
That kind of mental toughness might seem a practical in order to survive life’s challenges, but unexpressed sadness can turn to bitterness or despair that harms us even further. When we deny or dull our pain, we also dull our joy.
Jesus was “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3, NIV). In some of the first words of the Sermon on the Mount, He gives us this promise: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, NIV). When we grieve, not if we grieve, we will be comforted.
Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He became deeply anguished and distressed, saying “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:37, NIV).
He shows us that it’s OK to mourn.
You may find it helpful to list out the sadnesses of your heart when you mourn. You can write out the ways that you have experienced sorrow or tragedy. Then, you may write down what has been lost through such suffering. What have those losses taken from you?
It’s also good to write down the blessings that may have come through those losses — things you learned, ways you have grown spiritually, relationships that have been impacted in a positive way. What have those losses made possible?
These steps won’t change what has happened, but they can help you process your grief and experience God’s comfort.
Remember: God has enough love, joy, hope, and power for every room of grief you find yourself in.
Room to Pray
Jesus taught us to go into a quiet room when we pray, shutting the door, so that the worries and activities of the world can be set aside for a while. If He had taught this today, He might counsel that we turn off our computers, smart phones, and televisions.
We all need a quiet place in which we can draw near to God. It may be a chair in your bedroom or living room. You might find a place like that outdoors — an inspiring, regular place you can go to talk to God.
Jesus said that there’s a reward waiting for those who go into their rooms, shut out the noise, and talk to God (see Matthew 6:6). What is that reward? Just the sound of God’s voice. Through that voice, we can gain wisdom, encouragement, and guidance.
In a few weeks, our church will host a prayer retreat at the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center in Townsend. We have not done one of these for a while, but I believe that for many people, it will come at just the right time. We will be learning prayer practices that are drawn from Richard Foster’s book titled Prayer, in addition to scripture reflection and lots of time to pray.
The retreat will be held from February 7-8 (one night), and the cost is only $50. You can sign up by emailing [email protected].
Do you need room to pray? Then join us for this meaningful time in rich fellowship with other church members.
Wherever you are today, in whatever room you’re in, it’s always time to pray.
I hope you have a wonderful week, that you’re safe and warm, and that no matter what room you’re in, you’ll know that God’s presence is enough.
With love,
Pastor Brent McDougal