It was a late night and all 4 kids were seatbelted in and nearly asleep before we barely began the 20 minute drive home. I knew at least 2, if not more, would be out cold by the time we rolled into our own driveway. I looked through the music playlist to find something that could help those heavy eyelids along a bit further.
“Can you play God songs?” I hear from the backseat.
I smile that happy mama smile that really can’t be described and I pick a song. My current favorite. The one my husband and I have been shedding some tears over for a while now.
The notes begin and right away, before a single word is sung, my 8 year old boy whispers to us.
“I really like this one.”
How he knows which song it is, I don’t know. The words begin to pour out and into me.
Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me “son
Stop fighting a fight it’s already been won”
My eyes are closed and it’s turned into worship and I always have a pain twinge in my heart remembering how long I wish for certain afflictions to end — and then swiftly it’s balmed by my remembrance that, truly, the afflictions are not forgotten and they aren’t just without end. And He knows. All of it.
It’s crazy how a song can give you revelation.
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I’m not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I’m redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, “Child lift up your head”
I remember, oh God, You’re not done with me yet
Long ago wounds that have the thickest scar tissue over them seem to soften at the most basic of words that I relate to. I love how God does this work in us.
Because I don’t have to be the old man inside of me
‘Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I’ve got a new name, a new life, I’m not the same
And a hope that will carry me home
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, ’cause I’m not who I used to be
I do have a new name. And so do you. And you. And you. Has God told you your new name? I have a feeling it might also be Redeemed. Or Whole. Or Loved. Or Beautiful. Or Victorious.
We pull into the drive as the song ends and we all pause. There’s a holy hush in the car, and no, it’s not just because 2 kids are snoring and we’re trying to keep quiet.
The rest of us are lingering there. In that place with God when He holds you just a bit longer. Please let me never stop lingering.
We finally break and begin gathering our things and go into the house and everyone seems to be in this rare mood of reverence.
I tuck them all into bed.
I start the next song.
Do you have a current life-song that’s changing your heart (and home) right now? I’d love to hear about it!
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Lyrics from “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave
By Arianne from To Think Is To Create
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