As I stood on the stage last night, rehearsing the music for Friday night’s Celebrate Recovery, I couldn’t help but feel an intense connection with one song in particular. I mean the band is playing, the singers are…well…singing, and I was getting lost in the lyrics and how they seemed to be an illustration of my life, my struggles, my joy.
The song is “Your Love Never Fails” which was released by Jesus Culture a few years back. The title says it all. Your love never fails. God’s love never fails. Here’s a sample of the lyrics.
The wind is strong and the waters deep but
I’m not alone here in these open seas
Your love never fails
The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
Your love never fails
This is one of those beautiful moments when life intersects song. A literal point that can be experienced whether through the memory of a past experience or the hurt associated with the situation you’re currently facing…it’s real.
The wind is strong and the waters deep…I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck in the cycle of addiction, whether it was drugs, alcohol, pornography, or gaming. I KNEW Jesus, but lived according to my selfish desires, my wants, my ways, not his. Like Peter, I took my eyes off what really mattered and started to sink (Matthew 14:22-29). BUT unlike Peter, I didn’t extend my hand for Jesus to rescue me…I sank…and sank…and sank. I failed to realize that I wasn’t alone.
Do you know that you’re not alone?
The chasm is far too wide…It seemed like I was never going to be able to get up or get out. I was stuck. I couldn’t do it on my own. I was powerless. Yet I believed I was in control. I believed I had it. I told myself I could stop whenever I wanted to. Yet I couldn’t. I never thought I’d reach the other side. The crazy thing is this is exactly where I needed to be. As long I thought I could do it, I’d never let God. I couldn’t reach the other side on my OWN, I had to learn to trust JESUS to get me there (Hebrews 7:20-28).
Are you still trying to do get there on your own?
In spite of my mistakes, He loves me. In spite of my daily rebellion, He loves me. He stays the same. He doesn’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). I change. You change. We walk away. We run away. We stray. God never moves.
I had to come to the realization that I am not God; that I am POWERLESS over my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life was and is unmanageable. I had to BELIEVE God exists and that He ALONE has the power to help me recover. Finally, I had to CHOOSE to commit my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
It’s not easy. It’s necessary.
The song is “Your Love Never Fails” which was released by Jesus Culture a few years back. The title says it all. Your love never fails. God’s love never fails. Here’s a sample of the lyrics.
The wind is strong and the waters deep but
I’m not alone here in these open seas
Your love never fails
The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
Your love never fails
This is one of those beautiful moments when life intersects song. A literal point that can be experienced whether through the memory of a past experience or the hurt associated with the situation you’re currently facing…it’s real.
The wind is strong and the waters deep…I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck in the cycle of addiction, whether it was drugs, alcohol, pornography, or gaming. I KNEW Jesus, but lived according to my selfish desires, my wants, my ways, not his. Like Peter, I took my eyes off what really mattered and started to sink (Matthew 14:22-29). BUT unlike Peter, I didn’t extend my hand for Jesus to rescue me…I sank…and sank…and sank. I failed to realize that I wasn’t alone.
Do you know that you’re not alone?
The chasm is far too wide…It seemed like I was never going to be able to get up or get out. I was stuck. I couldn’t do it on my own. I was powerless. Yet I believed I was in control. I believed I had it. I told myself I could stop whenever I wanted to. Yet I couldn’t. I never thought I’d reach the other side. The crazy thing is this is exactly where I needed to be. As long I thought I could do it, I’d never let God. I couldn’t reach the other side on my OWN, I had to learn to trust JESUS to get me there (Hebrews 7:20-28).
Are you still trying to do get there on your own?
In spite of my mistakes, He loves me. In spite of my daily rebellion, He loves me. He stays the same. He doesn’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). I change. You change. We walk away. We run away. We stray. God never moves.
I had to come to the realization that I am not God; that I am POWERLESS over my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life was and is unmanageable. I had to BELIEVE God exists and that He ALONE has the power to help me recover. Finally, I had to CHOOSE to commit my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
It’s not easy. It’s necessary.
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