just do it

be still, there is a Healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are a fortress for the weak

be still, there is a river
that flows from Calvary's tree
a fountain for the thirsty
pure grace that washes over me

i lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
as i pour out my heart
these things, i remember
You are faithful, God, forever
   (by chris tomlin)

this is a newer song that has really taken root in my heart. the words speak of comfort, healing, mercy, and grace...all things that i have been blessed with from my God, all things that my heart continues to cry out for. but what specifically spoke to me was the line "i lift my hands to believe again." i think so many times in our lives, we think of thanking God, praising Him, lifting our hands to him, and believing in Him after He does what we want Him to. during the times of pain, confusion, and misunderstanding, we don't feel as easily compelled to lift our hands to Him.

but i interpret this line, "i lift my hands to believe again" to say that it's the lifting of our hands, the praising of His name, the thanking Him through the pain and in spite of the misunderstanding that actually leads us to the belief and trust that He wants for us. the act of worship is what brings us closer to His throne, and He wants us to worship Him in every circumstance. because it is every circumstance that He is working for our good. the obedience of worship, the sacrifice of doing it when we don't feel like it, brings the blessing we so long for.

i have found this to be true in my life, and i see people all around me whose hearts are breaking while they long to be closer to God. i have friends in crisis, family members in pain, and they (like i have done and still do sometimes) continue to try to manage things themselves. they are broken people; they feel trapped and desperate. but they still refuse to try God's way. i understand this. i have been there. it's so hard to see how His plan can be better when we are so far away from His voice. it's hard to get past our pride, our guilt, our own ideas of what works and what doesn't... and yet God tells us to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to worship Him anyway. it's so against what our hearts tell us, but our hearts are sinful, and they deceive us.

God doesn't go away. He doesn't give up. He doesn't stop chasing after His children. all we have to do is to stop and lift our hands to Him. is sounds so simple. and it is.

i lift my hands to believe again
You are my rescue, You are my strength
as i pour out my heart
these things, i remember
You are faithful, God, forever.