For those of you who know me pretty well personally, you know I am normally even-keeled, not particularly emotional or too easily rattled. Well, three times over the last week I have spilled tears in public places.
The first time happened while sitting at a bar with my husband. We were talking about all the upcoming graduation parties when tears started streaming down my face just thinking about our daughter graduating this time next May.
A few days later as I was driving away from the gym I saw the man who flies battery-operated planes in the park and started to cry. That is a story in itself that I will explain in a future post so stay tuned!
The third time was during the Compadres concert this past Thursday night. We were having a great time, enjoying our friends and the incredible performance by my new favorite artists when the words to the NEEDTOBREATHE song, Wasteland, perked my ears.
“All of these people I meet
It seems like they’re fine
Yeah in some ways I hope that they’re not
And their hearts are like mine
Yeah it’s wrong when it seems like work
To belong all I feel is hurt”
The anguish in these lines resonated well as we live life with teenagers and see so clearly how the struggles we think are unique to us are true of those all around us. They may look perfectly put together so we have no idea they are barely holding on, thinking the world is against them too.
And then the chorus came:
“Oh if God is on my side
Yeah if God is on my side
Oh if God is on my side
Who can be against me”
I had just posted earlier in the day my last blog When God Seems Against You and quoted the same verse from Romans 8:30. These words echoing through my head felt like God affirming what I had written.
Yes. Kristen. I AM with you. I know intimately everything going on and have you in the palm of My hands.
Then the music broke back in through my thoughts and with these next lines I started to weep:
“Yeah in this wasteland where I’m livin’
There is a crack in the door filled with light
And it’s all that I need to get by
Yeah in this wasteland where I’m livin’
There is a crack in the door filled with light
And it’s all that I need to shine.”
Yes, Lord. You are the Light and only hope for this sinful broken wasteland we call home. Help us to see you even in just a sliver coming through the cracks. Illuminate the darkness so we know you are here. So we know you are on our side.
I love how music can speak so deeply to our souls and in that moment standing by my husband, the words became a prayer and the tears my surrender. Only God can burst through the darkness to expose and change hearts. But even so in the midst of my own wasteland He shines His truth through the words of a song and I know He is drawing near.
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I know you said Needtobreathe is a new favorite but if you don’t know the story of the song and really the whole album they were going to call it wasteland because the band got to the point of almost breaking up. But something new and fresh came to them so they called it “Rivers in the Wasteland.” Even they had rough patches but with God all things are possible!
Oh i love hearing the reason for the album’s name. Thanks for sharing!