gonna be alright

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

- Psalm 16:1 (NIV)

 

When is the last time that you faced something scary, difficult, or overwhelming? (credit to Scott Savage, Air1)

For me it was just this past week in fact, that I was having a terrible time dealing with some things going on in my world and I just wanted to give up.

It was bad enough that crazy thoughts were filling my head and I was driving down the road to my next appointment with tears streaming down my face.

And then it happened, this song from Ryan Ellis came on the radio called “Gonna Be Alright”.

You hear my cry, my deepest pain

You listen patiently as long as it takes

You whisper truth over the lies

The words that bring me back to life

Everything's gonna be alright

Everything's gonna be alright

You hold me in Your arms

Until my storm is calm

Everything's gonna be alright, hmmm

Everything's gonna be alright

You are the strength when I am weak

The only one that leads my soul to perfect peace

And I will sing my way through the night

The words that bring me back to life

Everything's gonna be alright

. . .

Your love will be my song

'Til all my fears are gone

Everything's gonna be alright

. . .

And I believe, oh I believe

You're working all things for my good

. . .

And everything's gonna be alright

Everything's gonna be alright

You hold me in Your arms

'Til all my fear is gone

Everything's gonna be alright

Everything's gonna be alright

Your love will be my song

'Til all my fears are gone

Everything's gonna be alright

Everything's gonna be alright

Everything's gonna be alright

I believe, yes I believe

You're working all things for my good

. . .

I had to pull over because I was sobbing so hard.

When I got home, I started researching and found an article on Air1’s music blog posted May 26th 2023 by Scott Savage.

In the blog he talks about the “Faith Behind the Song” and he mentions an interview with Tim Keller, former pastor of a church in Manhattan, that took place shortly after Keller was diagnosed with cancer in 2020.  

Keller was diagnosed with cancer when the rest of the world was trying to comprehend and navigate a pandemic.
In this interview, Keller was asked what he’d say to followers of Jesus who are worried about the future:

“If Jesus Christ was actually raised from the dead…then everything’s going to be alright. Whatever you’re worried about right now, whatever you are afraid of, everything is actually going to be ok. Because we’re not just talking about resurrected people—and this is where Christianity is unique—we’re talking about a resurrected world. There are plenty of other religions that talk about a future afterlife which is a non-material world. In other words, you get a consolation for the world we’ve lost. Christianity says it’s not just your bodies being resurrected but the world is actually going to be a material world that’s cleansed from all evil and suffering and sin. If Jesus Christ was raised from the dead then the whole world is going to be resurrected and everything is going to be ok. Everything.” – Timothy Keller

Between Ryn Ellis’ song and Tim Keller’s words you have to realize that everything really is going to be fine. 
Scott Savage offers this advice when you feel like life is too much to bear: 

First, name the thing which you are worried about. Are you carrying burdens today? Identify them by name.

Second, imagine them sitting in your open hands. Set your palms on your thighs. Imagine those things sitting in your hands, weighing them down.

Third, close your eyes and imagine Jesus sliding into the seat next to you. Listen closely as He whispers “Everything’s going to be alright. I’ve got you and I’ve got this. You don’t have to carry that anymore. Stop listening to the lies and listen to my truth. Everything’s going to be alright.”

We can count on those words, we can count on Jesus.

Everything is gonna be alright.

 

#dailybreadbykitty

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