Singing God’s Words

The songs we sing in worship are addressed in a few different directions. Sometimes we sing directly to God (Be Thou my vision of Lord of my heart…). Sometimes we sing to one another (Children of the heavenly Father, safely in his bosom gather…). And sometimes we sing the words that God is speaking over us. One of my favorite examples of this is the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” In verse 4 we sing these words from God’s perspective:

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace all sufficient will be your supply.
The flames will not hurt you;
I only design Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

This Sunday at the 10:30am service, I am singing another example of this type of song. “Out of Hiding (Father’s Song)” pieces together ideas from scripture: Come to Me, all who are weary (Matthew 11:28), We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19), and your sorrow will turn into joy (John 16:20), and puts them into poetry from God’s perspective. It begins with this invitation: “Come out of hiding you’re safe here with me.”  The part of the song I feel most drawn to is verse that states:

Oh, as you run what hindered love
Will only become part of the story.

As I think back at my own journey, it is those times where I felt love was hindered, where I was weak, sorrowful, vulnerable, and when I felt so inadequate to love that God created new life, new love, and a larger, more glorious story. How can you live by your own strength when you feel like you have none? In those troubles, God grace shines forth. The song “How Firm a Foundation” says it this way:

For I will be with you your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.

Our deepest distresses become points of holiness in our lives through God’s redeeming and transforming work. This alchemical work is in the nature of God: ashes turn to beauty, mourning turns to joy, despair into praise.  

Enjoy God’s words over you. No tears are wasted. May God bless them all for His kingdom’s sake.

Jill Schroeder-Dorn, DA., Director of Worship Arts