Be Held

I’m not sure what it is about Christian music that speaks so near and dear to my heart.  Just like reading God’s word over and over again and each time He speaks something new and different within the same verse or passage- Christian music often does the same.  Maybe it’s our Heavenly Father speaking that still small voice to our soul.  Telling us whatever we are needing to hear from Him in that moment.

I have heard the song “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns many times.  But recently as I was driving and heard the song on the radio, the words hit me like I was hearing them for the first time and literally brought tears to my eyes.  They painted such a beautiful picture of how we try and hold on with such strength when life gets tough.  It takes everything in us to fight through pain, disappointment, depression, stress, uncertainty, anxiety- but no matter how hard we hold on, our strength is zapped and often times the feelings remain unchanged.

God wants us to depend on Him.  We were never intended to trudge through this life during challenging times, on our own.  He desires so deeply for each of His children to draw near to Him and just let our Heavenly Father hold us.  I know that personally as I have had these moments in life hit me unexpectedly, I am guilty of trying to maintain control and fight on my own with everything in me.  But even if I try and pray through it and beg God to answer those prayers, I have found that it is not until I surrender it ALL to Him-when I really let go- that He picks me up and holds me. He fills me with His peace that transcends all understanding, and takes my face in His hands.  Jesus looks me in the eyes and reminds me that He is still on the throne.  Just as Peter was called out of the boat by Jesus and asked to trust Him and walk to Him on water, He calls us to come to Him during our moments of doubt and asks us to really trust Him.

This is how our faith grows.  The God of the Universe that spoke the world into existence is also the Lord of Lords that holds our lives in His hands.  Even when we don’t understand why He has allowed the circumstances surrounding us to be a part of our story, He is still our Savior who rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of The Father.  He loves us. God Is Love! He knows what’s best for us and He will bring beauty out of the ashes if we just let Him hold us and have control. He wants us to surrender it all to Him and trust that He is working it out for our good and His glory.  He will bring us through to the other side and our lives will never be the same.  We will have experienced Him deeper than we ever knew was possible and we can even become grateful for the trials from our yesterdays.

With Love-   April

Isaiah 63:9

In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.