The Anatomy of Music Part 3......

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Praise You In This Storm – Casting Crowns

It's those long dangerous nights when I whisper these words to myself. They keep me going through God's grace and I cannot thank Him enough for doing something so small as putting this song in my life. Some may say that music is simply music and can't control a person. People who say that are sincerely wrong. I have read stories of young people killing themselves because of the music they listened to. I could go in depth but if you're that interested look it up yourself and see the horror of it all. Depending on what music you listen to it can control your heart. This song does just that. Yet it does it in a good way.

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.

This part seems to show the weakness in the singer of the song. He was hoping that God would come down and help Him out sooner. Like it says, “Stepped in and saved the day”. It portrays God as out hero. Which He is, only more than that. He is simply the only being that can save us! Without God I would truly be nothing.

But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

When I'm in a tough place, listening to this song, and asking God why, this part can only make me cry. I don't believe any song, even the previous ones we've talked about affect me the way those couple of lines do. “It's still raining”, what a picture. “As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, I'm with you”. It's so true friends. When I feel lost, burdened, like there's no way out. And as that haunting, hurting feeling rushes over me like rain, as the thunder of lost hope burns deep into my mind I listen closely, and I hear that still small voice saying, “I'm with you.” After this all I can do is simply raise my hands, raise them and praise my God, my savior. God is a God who gives and takes away, and sometimes when He takes things from us it hurts. But He knows what He's doing. We shouldn't sit around and pout about it. God's in control. He's with you.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

This storm, this storm of troubles and hard circumstances that always bring me back to the cross. I will lift my hands, I will praise God because you know what? He truly is who He is. That statement may seem lame, or unneeded but in a time of need you have got to understand who God is. Who is God? God is all-knowing, all-powerful. These are just two of His attributes but they are enough to prove to me that I shouldn't be scared! If God knows all, then I must know that He knows what's coming up for me. If God's all powerful, then I must know that He can save me. And, that He will save me. God will be who He is no matter what situation I'm in. He'll be there with me, holding my hand through it all. “Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand, You never left my side, and through my heart is torn I will praise YOU in this storm!” I know that no matter what is going on in life, God will be there, He will those ever flowing tears in His hand, and He will guide me. Even though my heart may be completely torn, God is still there. And I will praise Him through the storm.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Ahhh yes.... I have stumbled, and I do remember when I stumbled. Indeed, God heard my cry. I didn't deserve help, didn't deserve to have God come to my rescue, yet He always does. He raises me up again, He shows me His awesome power. I have come to ask Him sometimes, “Lord, truly, my strength is almost gone, I'm soon to be done for, how can I continue on? I can't find You God....” He always answers, answers with three simple words. I'm sure you're saying them right now. “I'm with you...” He strengthens me again, helps me back up on my feet, and I can do nothing but praise Him for it all.

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

These lines come straight from Psalms. “I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” Honestly, when you're in dire need of help, do lift your eyes to God. For it is from God that your help will come. My help comes daily from God, yes, I fail, I cannot deny it, but God won't turn His back on me. He won't turn His back on you. The person who can turn a back is you, me, all of us. I can easily turn my back on God, He will never forget me.

I end with this amazing quote that I got from a friend of mine, and thank you friend for giving it to me.
“It started out as a walk, then I tripped over a snare, fell and laid on the hard earth, hoping someone would find me there. After much pain and more prayers I got back up, dusted off the consequences of my mistake... and took another step.”

I hope that these thoughts have done some good in your life, would love to hear about it if they have. Just remember, I'm going through the same struggles, we all are, and we all must turn to the cross. Don't turn your back on God, turn towards Him, can't you see? His hand is stretched toward you, He's just waiting for you take it...
-JK