The Clearing: Where Worship Lifts the Weight

Ever feel like life is this long walk through a dense forest? You’ve got a backpack on, stuffed with everything you’re carrying—stress, worry, the weight of your day-to-day. Every step feels heavier, and it’s easy to wonder if you’ll ever find your way through. But then, up ahead, you see a clearing—a place where the sunlight breaks through the trees, and for the first time in a while, you feel like you can breathe. You drop the pack, feel the weight lift, and you just stand there, taking in the relief.

That’s what worship does—it’s the clearing. It's where the weight of life meets the power of God, and suddenly, everything shifts. Worship isn't just singing; it's connection. It connects us to God in the middle of whatever we’re walking through.

As a Worship Leader, I’ve experienced some of my hardest moments at the piano. Life can get so overwhelming that there are no words to describe it. And that’s okay. The beauty of worship is that words aren’t always needed. It’s not about what we say; it’s about what happens in our hearts when we sit in the presence of our Creator—the One who loves us more deeply than we could ever imagine. When we shift our focus from our burdens and turn our gaze upward to the Father, something incredible happens.

Safety is the first word that comes to mind in that space. Just like finding that clearing in the forest, there’s a sense of peace and protection in His presence. In Him, we’re safe. It doesn’t matter how wild the storm is around us—He’s the one who can calm it. He goes ahead of us and makes a way when we can’t see the way forward. He’s our refuge, as David says in Psalm 91:2: "This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him."

The next word is trust. In that clearing, when we let go of our burdens and look beyond what’s right in front of us, our trust in God deepens. Trust, to me, feels like walking on barbed wire—completely unsure of what’s coming next but choosing to believe that God’s got it. Trusting God is a choice. I’ve learned through the years that there really is no other way to live. His words speak so much truth when He says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Finally, there’s freedom. When we trust that God is our safe place, we can drop every weight we’re carrying right at His feet. He promises His burden is light and His yoke is easy. Once we step into that truth, we’re free—free to worship, whether we’re in the valley or on the mountaintop. Freedom happens when we know deep down that God is the Waymaker. There’s nothing too big for Him. Nothing.

So, wherever you are today, whether you feel buried under the weight of life or just a little off course, know this: there’s a clearing ahead. A place where you can let go, breathe, and be safe in the arms of the Father who loves you more than you’ll ever know. As this Psalm says so beautifully:

Standing in the clearing with my hands lifted high,

Tracee Padilla