We are loved at the end of our rope

Before I share this song, I have to recommend the artist. I have fallen in the love with All Sons & Daughters in recent years, and I think you will too! If you’re looking for some new (or new-to-you) Christian/worship music, check out their album Season 1 (or any of their albums are great!).

This is a lovely, simple song about how incredibly blessed we are, in all seasons of life. Perhaps today in your pain, sadness, confusion and/or waiting, it will prompt you to journal a list of blessings in your life. 

We are loved at the end of our rope
When we’re less there is more of the Lord
In the fight for our souls we must learn to let go
And abandon who we are

We are loved when we feel all is lost
When the shadows are cast on the cross
Only then can we know the embrace of the one
Who’s carried us along

We are blessed, we are blessed 

We are loved when we feel most content
With who we are, nothing more nothing less
We’ll inherit the earth declaring Your worth
Bring glory to Your name

We are blessed, we are blessed 

We’re blessed, we’re loved
Our hearts, our souls
We now rejoice, rejoice

…And just for fun, I’m adding a bonus song! My favorite song by them, called Dawn to Dusk:

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Blessed be Your name when I’m found in the desert place

This has been our family’s special song since before we God married. It is our theme — to praise God no matter what. Obviously, it’s perfect for this trial — this “desert place.”

If you’re creative, I have a suggestion for you. In college a good friend of mine had our Bible study group do an activity where we rewrote the lyrics to match our life situation. The song’s lyrics go back and forth from good and bad things, and it’s great to apply it to your life.

Something like…

Blessed be Your name when I’m in the doctor’s office again

When we get a negative again

Blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name, when the baseline looks promising

When the agency accepts our papers

Blessed be Your name.

Ok, yeah, I just made those up on the spot, but you get the idea. 🙂 Anyway, be blessed and bless the Lord!

This is my prayer in the desert

I can’t believe I haven’t yet thought to post this perfect song for our current struggle. I love how it talks about this time as being in the desert. I usually call it “the valley,” but I actually live in a desert so that imagery is very real to me. I also love that it points trial and despair back to praise and strength in God. May you make these words your heart’s honest anthem today and always: 

All of my life, in every season, You are still God, and I have reason to sing. 

Before listening to the song, just read the lyrics quietly to yourself. What great truths to meditate on. Praise be to God.

VERSE 1:
This is my prayer in the desert,
When all thats within me feels dry;
This is my prayer in my hunger and need,
“My God is the God who provides.”

VERSE 2:
This is my prayer in the fire,
In weakness or trial or pain,
“There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame.”

CHORUS:
I will bring praise,
I will bring praise,
No weapon formed against me shall remain.
I will rejoice,
I will declare,
“God is my victory and He is here.”

VERSE 3:
This is my prayer in the battle,
When triumph is still on its way,
“I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand.”

BRIDGE:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing;
I have a reason to worship.

VERSE 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest,
When favor and providence flow,
“I know I’m filled to be emptied again;
The seed I’ve received I will sow.”

On Happiness

Pastor Tim Keller on biblical happiness.

Redefining Blessing

Today is a double-encouragement kind of day. I’m sharing two songs with a similar theme.

The first is “Gratitude” by Nichole Nordeman. This is an older song that I remember loving and posting on my dorm wall way back in college. I really cherish the very Biblical idea of praising God for what He gives, and being content with it. This song speaks of redefining our idea of a blessing — it may not always come in the material things or feelings we long for, like shelter or peace [or children], but in His not granting those things, we often gain much more valuable blessings. Here’s the song, with the lyrics.

The second song also speaks of looking for the blessings in trials and waiting, which are often to be cherished above the thing we are waiting for.

I’ll be honest, the reason I am posting this with another song is because I think it sounds a little cheesy. The first time I heard it, we were at a retreat, and I kind of giggled and rolled my eyes at the “raindrops” chorus… but when it was over, I looked over and saw my husband was teary-eyed! The next day when they sang it again, I really listened to the words and it sunk in deeper. So even though I still think it sounds a little cheesy [and later I got my husband to admit that he agrees!], the meaning is deep and really speaks to me. I especially relate to line about “a thousand sleepless nights” — amen, and amen!

My friend, I have one big, life-changing truth to suggest to you: If you can see your trial as more of a blessing than an awful curse, and take the time to see what God is using it for in your life, I can promise you it will make the days and months more bearable and [almost] welcomed, compared to the dread and misery you would otherwise face.

Ok, enough preaching, here’s the song. It’s called “Blessings” by Laura Story.