Strangely Dim

A promise I've been holding on to lately.

Life's a funny thing, isn't it? One second, you'll be on top of the world and the next, you'll feel so low, you can't see the sun... well... actually, where I live, you rarely see the sun. BUT that's besides the point. Lately, life's been a roller coaster.

Despite all the changes that are going on around me, God is constant. He's never left me, even when it seems like He has. When I look at Him, everything else just pales in comparison. The world grows dim compared to His splendor. In the darkest times, when I feel like I can't see or hear Him, He speaks through situations, friends, family and His creation. In the end, (and the beginning, for that matter) He reigns supreme. He has a plan and all we have to do is faithfully chase after Him. (Which, as some of us know, can be a challenge in and of itself.)

Recently, my youth group worship band learned a new song. It's called "Oh the Love of My Redeemer" and it's spoken to me countless times over the past couple of months. Here are the lyrics: 

VERSE 1HIGHEST HEIGHTS OR DARKEST DEEPSBE THERE PAIN OR POVERTYTHERE IS NOTHING THAN CAN KEEPMY REDEEMER’S LOVE FROM ME

VERSE 2ALL ALONE THOUGH I MAY FEELALL THE WORLD MY ENEMY STILL THERE’S NO ONE THAT CAN STEALMY REDEEMER’S LOVES FROM ME

CHORUSO THE LOVE OF MY REDEEMERNEVER FAILING COME WHAT MAYHE HAS PURCHASED MY FORGIVENESSAND HAS WASHED MY SINS AWAY

VERSE 3ALTHOUGH BURDENED BY THE WEIGHTOF GREAT TRIAL OR TRAGEDYNONE OF THESE CAN SEPARATEMY REDEEMER’S LOVE FROM ME

VERSE 4THOUGH THE EARTH’S FOUNDATION SHAKEDRIVING WIND OR RAGING SEANEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE CAN TAKEMY REDEEMER’S LOVE FROM ME

VERSE 5THROUGH THIS WORLDS FEW PASSING DAYSAND THROUGH ALL ETERNITYI WILL NEVER CEASE TO PRAISEMY REDEEMER’S LOVE FOR ME

Aren't they great?! The lyrics of the first verse and the chorus keep getting stuck in my head at the times that I need to hear them most. (Crazy how that happens, right? Thankfully, God knows how to speak to me and sometimes, music is the only way I really get it.) 

God is so wonderful. He is so good. I'm in total awe and wonder at His glory and grace.

Another song that's been speaking to me lately is "Strangely Dim" by Francesca Battiselli. It's sooo good, you can listen to it below.

Also, have you ever really thought about the lyrics in the chorus of "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"? I honestly hadn't until tonight at church  They ring with such a beautiful, profound, perfect truth.

"My chains are gone,

I've been set free.

My God, My Savior

Has ransomed me.

And like a flood,

His mercy reigns.

Unending Love; Amazing Grace."

I need to be reminded of this on a daily basis, even though you'd think I would be able to remember something so life-altering. Alas, in my human ways, I forget it often. Do you realize what an amazing grace we've been given? Christ died to set us free. He ransomed us with His blood. He defeated death in the Father's name. He set us free from our bondage. He broke our sin. We're free from it. Are you living and walking in that freedom on a daily basis? I know I don't always walk in that the way I should. (Conviction, anyone?) God's working with me on that.

My challenge to you is this: listen to the lyrics of the songs you worship to. God could be trying to tell you something. He reveals Himself in many ways, one of them being music.

Also, live in the freedom we've been given. It's a gift, it's grace, it's mercy, it's a second chance and it's the most wonderful thing you can ever experience.