By: Laura Bennett
When life is full, when we’re tired, when we experience loss or don’t understand what God’s doing in our lives, one of the first things we can sometimes let go of is worship.
The idea of thanking God, expressing gratitude to Him might feel uncomfortable or just not a priority.
Jenn Johnson has been part of Bethel Church in Redding, California for over 20 years. Together with her husband Brian, Jenn leads worship with Bethel Music – the label they co-founded in 2001 – inspiring the global church to see worship as foundational to the Christian faith, not just something we do on a Sunday.
“Worship is something [we can] all take advantage of, and for granted, in a big way,” Jenn said. “For all of us, sometimes days can go by without us turning our affection toward the Lord.”
On January 10, Bethel Music release We Must Respond, an 18-track live album reflecting Psalm 46:10’s instruction to “be still and know that I am God” and the compulsion we have to worship God when we do.
“The heart of We Must Respond, comes back to, how could we not?” Jenn said. “After everything God has done for us: creating this beautiful world, coming to Earth as a baby, dying on the cross and giving us His Holy Spirit – and that’s not even all He’s done for us personally – [how] could we not stop in our day [and say], ‘God, thank you’.”
Leading into 2025 there’s been a lot of uncertainty about how this year will unfold economically, politically and what will happen with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
When Jenn considers what the role of the local church is in times of unrest, she thinks “it’s everything”.
“We’re called to build and nurture the body of Christ and to serve, and to find where God’s highlighting for you to give and serve and be community. It’s such a big deal and so important.”
In her own life, Jenn’s connection to church and worship has been what’s steadied her – especially after the passing of her mother-in-law Beni Johnson two years ago to cancer. For a church known for its belief in miracles and reports of divine healing, losing Beni was confronting.
“It really took the carpet out from underneath our family,” Jenn said. “Our faith in a big way was really shaken by losing her to cancer right in front of us, slowly.
“We are all still walking with a limp in different ways. I don’t understand why [it happened] but I have to stay anchored in who I know God is, and that is that He’s good and that He’s the Healer.”
Jenn’s made it part of her morning routine to read the Bible and reset her mind in scripture “so I don’t get weird”.
“I have to stay more anchored on who He is, and the truth, and the response we should be doing as believers more than culture or what I’ve experienced in my life.
“The second experience, or emotion or pain become the lens of what I’m seeing instead of who God is, [I get] muddy and clouded and it affects me.”
For anyone feeling the heaviness of life, Jenn thinks “we can’t forget worship”.
“We can’t let time go by [and] leave our adoration for Sunday at church,” Jenn said. “Gratitude and thankfulness for God needs to be something that’s a daily rhythm for us.”
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: instagram @jennjohnson20
About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.