A few weeks ago, I woke up to a melody of a song, in the wee hours of the morning. I had the melody, but the words were vague to me. After days of this melody playing in my brain, I tried to formulate some of the words and went to YouTube. It was not the first song, but upon scrolling some more, I eventually found it.
I had to chuckle at the title: ‘Gonna be Alright’ by Matt Maher. The song is based on Matthew 6:25-31 or Luke 12:22-34… Different passages of the scripture, from two different accounts, saying basically the same thing. My Bible has both sections titled ‘Do Not Worry’.
I could not tell you when I had last heard this song on the radio, but, I knew that it was the Lord reminding me that I did not need to worry about a thing. It also had some recurring themes of things that I had been reminded of over the last few years. I smiled at how the Lord had met me, even in my sleep.
Then, something similar happened with another song a week or two later. Hearing the melody but not knowing the name of the song, or singer.
As you may be able to figure out by now, I love music, but unless I’m hearing the words, they don’t often stick in my brain.
As I went searching for this one, it is titled ‘How Good God Is’ by Brandon Lake.
As I found it and listened to the words, I knew that God was giving me another message.
Brandon starts out singing about not knowing about different things, until he was in positions that taught him how much he needed those very things.
Then, he says something.. until he needed those things ‘I would never known how good God is’…
Listen…. I’m sure I might have cried some ugly tears.
Sometimes, as you walk through some hard seasons, you don’t realize just how much you are being held together by God’s love and mercy.
As I thought more about it, it reminded me of one of my most favorite imageries and stories. ‘Footprints in the Sand’
The story is of a man having a conversation with God as images of his life showed across the sky.
He is walking with God throughout his life, and during the hardest parts of his life, he sees only one set of prints.
Almost accusatory, he asked how come during the hardest season, he was left alone.
The response blew me away.. ‘during your hardest seasons, that’s when I carried you’…
For some reason, this thought hit differently this week. I have always loved that story, but, it came alive for me.
And, I can confidently say: I wouldn’t have known how good God is unless I walked through some things, and for that, I am grateful!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for carrying us during our hardest seasons. Thank you for showing us your love in such tangible ways. Thank you that you genuinely want a relationship with us, and you bend close to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit.