Just be held.....

This is a very old picture (Thanksgiving 2013... 2 years old) of me with Zeke.  But I thought of it immediately when I was considering this blog.  It all started on Monday morning.  I had the radio on to listen to some Christmas music on the way to Gwen's house.  But there wasn't Christmas music playing (as I expected).  In fact, this song started to play and I was immediately aware that I needed to listen carefully to the lyrics and hear the message that it contained for me.  I don't think that I had ever heard this song before Monday morning.  At least I had never really LISTENED to the lyrics before.  When I got in the car to drive home, the radio was still on.  When I was about half way home, there was this song again...   twice in one day.  Yes, that got my attention.  I must need to hear these lyrics right now.  And listen to the message.   Here are the lyrics....................

 "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns

Hold it all together, Everybody needs you strong.

But life hits you out of nowhere, and barely leaves you holding on.

And when you're tired of fighting, chained by your control,

There's freedom in surrender.  Lay it down and let it go.

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away.

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held.

Your world is not falling apart, its falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held.  Just be held, just be held.

If your eyes are on the storm, you'll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross, you'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted. In time, you'll understand.

I'm painting beauty with the ashes, your life is in My hands.

Lift your hands, lift your eyes.  In the storm is where you'll find Me.

And where you are, I'll hold your heart, I'll hold your heart.  

Come to Me, find your rest.

In the arms of the God who won't let go.  

All during the evening on Monday, all I could think about was JUST BE HELD.  Today while I was watching my little nanny twins, they just seemed to both want to be held.  ALL DAY!  And both at the same time.  So I had a twin on each leg when they were not sleeping or eating.  During one of those sleeping times, I was remembering this picture of Zeke, just wanting to be held.  And this grandma just wanting to hold him.  And then I remembered a lesson I learned quite some time ago.  I was going through a time when things seemed very dark and I felt as if my prayers were not being heard or answered.  Just when I most needed it, Jesus taught me a powerful lesson through a toddler having a temper tantrum.  He reminded me that sometimes all you could do was pick up a screaming toddler and press them close to your chest to get them to calm down.  And when they are pressed tightly to your chest, it seems very dark and they can't hear you or see you.  And that is exactly what Jesus was doing to me at that moment.  I had been throwing quite a temper tantrum of sorts and His response was to hold me close.  Even though I felt it was dark and I wasn't being heard, in fact, the truth was that Jesus had pulled me into a loving embrace.  When I was listening to this song, I was back in that lesson.    And as I listened to those words, and then actually LOOKED at the words, I realized that I have been slipping into the place of trying to control well EVERYTHING.  And it has had me feeling stuck!  So I guess that is the "chained" mentioned in this song.  I guess I need to be lay it down and just be held.  

There is so much more in those lyrics that I can relate to.  What a great reminder that we need to lift our hands and our eyes when there is a storm swirling around us.  Because that is exactly where we will find Jesus.  In that spot there will be rest and the peace that comes with that surrender.  

Yes, I am very thankful for this "radio inspired" message and this amazing song.  I'll admit that it felt very different today when those sweet little ones wanted so badly to in my arms.  All I could think about was just how good it feels to be held by the One who knows exactly what we need.  

Please take a few minutes and let those words to this song get a hold of you.  I am sure that every person out there in cyberspace that is reading these words, will relate in some way to this song.  What a great place to be during this Advent season.  Letting go and just being held!  

Jesus, thank you for the gift of this song and the words that reached so deep into my spirit.  Holy Spirit, show each person reading this blog, exactly what they need from this post.  Thank you for Casting Crowns and the inspiration for this song.  Continue to bless them as they share your love with the world.  Thank you for little children that remind us to just relax into a loving embrace.  Amen