Songs on a Sunday: Blessings

I have only heard this song a couple times, but it never fails to touch me deeply. I pray that it will be a blessing to those who take the time to read it.

Blessings

by Laura Story

We pray for blessings. We pray for peace,

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.

We pray for healing, for prosperity.

We pray for Your mighty Hand to ease our suffering.

And all the while You hear each spoken need.

You love us way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.

We doubt Your goodness. We doubt Your love,

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.

And all the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us and darkness seems to win,

We know the pain reminds this heart that this is not, 

This is not home. It's not our home.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments and the aching of this life,

 Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life, the rain, storms, the hardest nights 

Are Your mercies in disguise?

To me, "Blessings" questions what we are willing to endure in order to know God. It asks the hard questions about whether or not it's really worth it to know God deeply if the only ways to do that are painful. It asks us to ask ourselves if we can choose to see God's greater good in the hard times of this life. Each time I hear its questions, I can't help but think that He IS worth the pain and hardship. If trials and tears are what it takes to know Him, they are still such a small price to pay. 

"Blessings" also reminds me that we should rejoice "in all things" and thank Him in all situations. Because often the trials we face are really gracious opportunities to know Him better and merciful chances to shine brighter for Him than we ever could have done in "good" times. 

The rain is still a blessing, if we only have enough faith to see it.

Songs on a Sunday - Lean on Me

I chose this song this week because I have felt the way it describes many times. Maybe I am alone in this, although I rather doubt it. There have been times that I have looked around and wondered if anyone cared that my heart was breaking. There where days when I wondered if anyone understood how alone, miserable, or overwhelmed that I felt.

When I could manage to hide the pain from everyone, I would be relieved because I didn't want anyone to see it. But yet my very success also made me even more sad. I mean, shouldn't everyone have SOMEONE that is close enough to look past the facade and see the hidden tears? 

This song reminds me that I do have Someone, and so could everyone else as well. Even when your friends leave you feeling neglected, uncared for, or simply left out God is still there. Even when your family is too far away or too busy to notice, God still knows. Even when people unknowingly say exactly the wrong thing and it pierces your heart, God understands that anguish. Even when you have so much going on that you feel as though you are drowning, God is there to offer His hand to pull you up out of the stormy seas of life.

My prayer today is that this song will be a blessing and encouragement to all who read it, as it has been to me.

Lean on Me

When no one cared about me, if I should live or die,

When no one bothered asking, why I go alone and cry,

When burdens got so heavy that I could not face the day,

Then I'd feel His arms around me and hear Him gently say,

“Lean on Me when you have no strength to stand.

When you feel you're going under, hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on Me when your heart begins to bleed.

When you come to the place that I'm all you have – you'll find I'm all you need.”

When the road ahead looks rugged and the path is getting steep.

I feel that I can't make it and my heart begins to weep.

Then I turn to see who's comin' to join me in the way.

And I see that it's my Saviour and I hear Him gently say,

“Lean on Me when you have no strength to stand.

When you feel you're going under, hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on Me when your heart begins to bleed.

When you come to the place that I'm all you have – you'll find I'm all you need.”