He reigns forever
He is our hope, our strong deliverer
He is the everlasting God
He does not faint, nor grow weary
Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord…
He is the defender of the weak
He comforts those in need
He lifts us up on wings like eagles
He is our hope, our strong deliverer
Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord…[1]
I am sitting here listening to Chris Tomlin. What a great worship leader. How God is using this man to write some of today’s greatest worship songs.
I think the things I love most about his songs are they are so God-focused. Often we sing ‘worship’ songs filled with too many ‘I’s. They are more about what we feel like rather than who God is. They tend to cause us to look inward instead of upward. Personally, I prefer to look upward. The view is better.
I was listening to ‘Everlasting God’. What a song of hope. So often, we feel so weak, so discouraged. At least I can feel that way at times. Situations that you can’t do anything about. Circumstances you can’t alter. People you can’t change. Yet, in our weakness, He remains the God of forever – who was, who still is, and who is yet to come.
The God that stood with David before Goliath. The God that stood with Noah before a mocking world. The God that stood with Stephen as he was stoned. The God that stood with Joshua as he walked the walls of Jericho. The God of forevers and the everlasting.
Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord.
David’s strength came when He waited… and sought five stones. Noah’s strength came while waiting… and working. Stephen’s strength came while waiting… and remaining faithful. Joshua’s strength came as he waited… and walked. They all became strong in the waiting… and waiting requires trust.
It is in trusting that we rest. Trusting means letting go and letting God. Holding on means refusing to take our hands off whatever it is we refuse to cease control of and let God work through. As long as we hold on, God holds back.
His answer. His solution. His healing. His blessing.
Can we even begin to comprehend the mercies, the blessings, the unfailing love He desires to give – if we will just let go? Holding on says that we are strong enough to work through the situation at hand. It says we don’t need God. Ouch.
Letting go says… I am weak. And yet, it is in that place that God chooses to work – not in our self-proclaimed strength.
Have you ever worked alongside of someone who thought they had it all under control – didn’t need your help? Sometimes we’ve said to ourselves, “Fine then…,” stood back, and watched them fall. We can get to be cocky when we think we are strong.
It says:
He is the defender of the weak
He comforts those in need
He lifts us up on wings like eagles
He is our hope, our strong deliverer
Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord…
God cannot defend someone who thinks they are strong. Why? They think they don’t need Him.
God cannot comfort someone who thinks they are not needy. Why? They think they’ve got it all together all on their own.
God cannot lift up someone on wings like eagles who is already flying high in their own pride.
Oh how I want Him to be my only hope, my only strong deliverer. Just Him. Even if it means waiting. After all, it is in the waiting I am made strong in Him.
You can listen to ‘Everlasting God’ here (and be blessed!):
[1] Adapted from the song, “Everlasting God” by Chris Tomlin.