Rescuer - Live in Studio

There has been a lot of grief, confusion, and anger over the past month. It seems like the ever-heavy weight of life is getting heavier. As a society we’ve experienced devastating events through natural disasters and terrible acts of violence. In addition to those stresses, there is often some level of personal battle we are all facing, or with those we know. If our hearts are touched by these recent events in our world, I believe it points to the fingerprints of God in our lives. I've asked myself "What is that feeling weighing on me? Is it just emotional? Is it sadness, fear, anger?" I don't really believe that I am only impacted emotionally. I feel that my spirit is grieved by recent tragedies. I believe this points me to be in touch with my soul, not only my rational mind. To me, my "spiritual heaviness" in response to recent events is not simply an emotional response, but something deeper.

At times when we are confused, or emotionally/spiritually drained, and don't really know what to do or say, I believe we can simply "weep with those who weep" and cry out to God for comfort. We can have faith that there can be healing in the process of bearing out souls and supporting one another. Part of the healing comes in the unity we can experience against evil. However, for that to work, I think that we can only respond to such evil and tragedy in the world by acknowledging that evil exists in the first place. I feel we need to believe that evil is at war with goodness and that the matters at hand in our society have both spiritual and physical roots. I believe that responding to both the spiritual and physical problems will yield better results. Out of that, we can share and strengthen our faith in God’s control and His character while extending that hope to others. We can find hope in the claim that the person of Jesus Christ has conquered evil and no matter what is experienced here and now, there is eternal victory from evil in Christ. 

Eventually, and perhaps sooner rather than later, action must be taken to move towards restoration, however I feel that it is most important to first set the right course of that action. I feel that the response starts with an honest assessment of ourselves in light of God's perfect love and that we all fall short of that. I feel we need to be rescued from our spiritual shortcoming. A quote I heard today that said it wonderfully "Like breath we need something outside ourselves to come into us and give us life". 

The song Rescuer rests in that place of heavy-heartedness for a moment. It allows my soul to express what it needs to express and call out for what it needs in attempts to align with the heart of my Maker. This song was written to call out my need for a Rescuer and express a longing for goodness and love to surround us again. I've been deeply moved by other songs that have expressed this kind of transparency and hope it reaches others in the way that those songs have reached me. If the world seems broken to you, perhaps these words offer some relief. I love the hope they offer.

John 16:33 - Jesus says: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."