A song that speaks volumes
I was first attracted this song for its musicality. I loved the melody, I loved the harmonization, I loved how the instruments blended together. And to be honest as I simply enjoyed the song for those elements, it wasn’t after the third or fourth listen that I actually started to pay attention to the lyrics, to what they were really singing about.
I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all your goodness
Hope to feel your presence
And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel you
Hope to feel something again
I listened to the first verse, and it sounded to me like just another Christian song like many out there, singing about waiting on God, about the sweetness of his presence, about how good he is to his children.
And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down
And then somehow I glazed through the second verse, and when she sang about holding on to who we were and not letting God change us, it did not immediately make me sit up and think about where this song was really going.
But you have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I will go where you will lead me Lord
And then it came to the chorus, and of course I was hearing, but I still wasn’t listening. And I thank God that eventually I liked the song enough to want to be able to sing along, and that’s when all the lyrics started to connect to one another. This song wasn’t a call for us to continuously sit back and selfishly seek God for our personal satisfaction. Our walk with God means so much more than that. Yes God blesses us with His Presence, especially at times when he knows we need His touch, but the outpouring of His Spirit isn’t primarily for our own enjoyment, but as a release of His Power in our lives to mobilise us to do something.
I have also had thoughts where I asked God for His Presence, where all I wanted was a touch or a word from Him. And now upon reflection, I realise how self-indulgent I must have seemed to God. I didn’t ask Him for His Presence for empowerment, but because I just wanted to be assured of His realness, or simply because I knew His Presence feels so good. But see, it wasn’t as if God hadn't already shown me enough of Himself for me to know and be assured of His Presence in my life, and my identity in Him.
And so as I reflect on this song and apply it to my life, I feel a greater sense of God’s call to move. In the passage Luke 10:38-42, it talks about how Martha was busying herself so much with doing that she couldn’t see the importance of soaking in Jesus’ presence while He was there with them. And yes of course this is right, it is biblical that we know when God wants to call us to Himself and for us to be still in His Presence. But in the same way that Jesus recluded to seek His Father’s Presence, and then afterwards exploded forth in His powerful ministry to the people, we should do the same. God gives us His Presence not just to satisfy us, but also (and I personally believe more importantly) to empower us to be the salt and light in the lives of people around us.
