Worship in the Wilderness: Lessons from Jeremiah 17

Have you ever walked through a season where your faith felt tested? Where anxiety, drought, or even God’s discipline seemed closer than His blessing? Jeremiah 17 gives us powerful truths about worship in those moments. Let’s dig in together.

Where Is Your Trust Planted?

Jeremiah 17 paints two pictures:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD… For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters.” (Jer. 17:5–8)

Worship is spiritual warfare because it reveals where our allegiance really is. Do we trust in people, wealth, our own strength — or in God alone? The battle is for our trust. And in worship, we plant ourselves by the living water, even in times of drought.

Worship Application: Ask yourself this week: “Where is my trust planted?” Spend time singing songs that declare His faithfulness (like Cornerstone or Great Is Thy Faithfulness), and let those words shift your heart’s allegiance back to Him.

Authentic Worship in Every Season

Verse 9 reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” True worship doesn’t come from pretending we’re fine, but it comes from letting God search us, cleanse us, and align us with His truth. Worship must flow from the inside out: honest, broken, surrendered, but anchored in His presence.

When Worship Becomes the Healing Cry

“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.” (Jer. 17:14)

Notice the order: before the healing came, before the saving was experienced, Jeremiah declared, “You are my praise.” Even in judgment, even in correction...he worshiped.

This flips our perspective: Worship isn’t just the reward for victory. Worship is the very cry that leads us into healing and restoration. Sometimes the most powerful worship is born not in joy, but in repentance, surrender, and tears.

Worship Application: Take 5 minutes alone with God. Ask Him to search your heart (Jer. 17:10). Whatever He reveals — surrender it. Then sing a song of mercy (Lord I Need You, Nothing but the Blood, or Mercy by Elevation Rhythm). Remember: He heals. He saves. He redeems. And your worship in those moments becomes the healing cry that brings His presence rushing in.

Hope, Sanctuary, and Identity

Jeremiah calls God the “hope of Israel” and “the fountain of living water.” Worship restores our identity as His children—those who trust Him and are sustained by Him alone. When we worship, we’re not just singing songs. We’re declaring: My life is planted in You, Lord. You are my source, my strength, my sanctuary.

Want to Go Deeper?

If these truths stirred your heart, imagine walking through 12 weeks of Bible study on worship just like this. That’s exactly why I created the WORSHIP: Are You Making a Sound? Online Course — to equip you to wield worship as your greatest weapon in every season.

Explore the Worship Course →