About five years ago, I set out to write some songs that could explain the following much-used words:
Love
Peace
Hope
Miracle
Spirit
Some of those songs were recorded and released, and some have yet to be. Love and Hope were released as part of an EP several years back (I hope you go listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or my YouTube Channel LyndsayTaylorMusic) because I love how they turned out. Spirit and Miracle may or may not make it out into the world, and Peace is actually named “Safe”…and it’ll be the next one I record, Lord-willing. But years before this idea, in 2008, I wrote the song Faith for my friends whose son was dying. He didn’t die though! The Lord had many more years in store for him, and I’m so thankful. But nonetheless, we all needed a “way to be” while we waited.
That matters. It makes me think of that song we used to sing so many years ago in church: The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, is mighty…He is doing something in us that can only be done through suffering, fasting, and prayer. He is in the midst of thee. He is with us, strategic, precise. Praise the Lord that He always has a “way to be” to impart to us, as we slow down, seek His face, hear His voice, and reorient our lives to His Word and His ways. We wouldn’t choose these times or this way…yet we can agree with Him who IS Wisdom, Righteousness, Perfection, Grace, and Love in submission.
Honestly, the posture, the “way to be” is like that song “Battle Belongs”: And when I fight, I fight on my knees.
Yes, we will ask because we know His Word has told us to ask our Abba Father for anything! And yes, we fight back the darkness without ceasing and without doubt, because we know the power He has given us to demand Satan to release his grip and abandon his plans. We take His Word and come to Him with it, using what is ours in Christ Jesus! We learn how to pray through being in His Word. And we do it in a posture of submission to Him, for He is worthy of it.
Right now, this song that I wrote in 2008 is on my mind as we walk through a valley of shadow and Light with one of my dearest friends in this life. I want to share it here today.
I don’t know if you’ll heal these burns deeper than my skin, I am
Closer to the fire than I have ever been
I have no assurances, and I have no immunities, I am left with nothing that puts
This circumstance at ease
And faith is more darkness than light
You can dress it up to sound nice, but faith is the bloody fight
A stubborn resolve to surrender heart and mind
It’s the long hard climb
Up an unmeasured mountain
With the dawn on the other side
It’s easy to hold to my faith if faith is believing I’ll get my way
But when it means I must submit, I don’t know if I can handle it this time
I feel I’ve walked this road before, but I stopped just shy
Of the place where I want you more than the miracle I’m waiting for
Oh, to want You more, more than the miracle I’m waiting for
Faith is more darkness than light
You can dress it up to sound nice, but faith is the bloody fight
A stubborn resolve to surrender heart and mind
It’s the long hard climb
Up an unmeasured mountain
With the dawn on the other side
My trust that You are faithful despite what my eyes see
My hope in Your provision as I lose everything
My faith- This is all I have to bring, this is my offering
I am waiting here in this silence, help my heart to know that You are always good
I am waiting here in this silence, help my heart to know that You are always good
You are always good
You are always good
Faith is more darkness than light
You can dress it up to sound nice, but faith is the bloody fight
A stubborn resolve to surrender heart and mind
It’s the long hard climb
Up an unmeasured mountain
With the dawn on the other side
I pray this encourages your faith today and reminds you that you do have power, you do have brave actions to take and scriptures to claim, and you can fight from a place of rest, submission, and peace. God is doing a work in each of us as we suffer and as we pray for others who are suffering. May He finish His good work in us, to His glory. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession! Whatever it takes, Lord, purify Your Bride. We are here for it. Sustain us. Call us up. Be magnified.
