Casting Crowns - A Live Worship ExperienceSample

Just Be Held

When your world is crashing around you, what kinds of questions do you wrestle with? Your views on the premillenialism versus amillennialism? Are you really haggling over whether Jesus turned water into fermented wine or non-alcoholic grape juice?

No. In tough times, you ask, “Can I really trust God with this situation? Am I being punished for all the bad stuff I’ve done? Is God really not going to bring this back up? Is it really gone? God, are you sure this isn’t going to come back and haunt me?”

A lot of times, tough times reveal our shallow faith and show that we’ve been trying to hold on to God. Thing is, we’re not holding on to God. He’s holding on to us.

In the last few years, life has been challenging for my family and me. First, we adopted our little girl, Hope, from China. We’ve held her hand and loved on her through her medical challenges. Then I got some news that would rattle anyone. Doctors found cancer in one of my kidneys.

While the surgery was successful and I’m cancer-free, the ordeal reminded me of this song. I’m usually the one trying to hold it all together because I’ve convinced myself that everybody needs me to be strong. Then life really did hit me out of nowhere, and at times it felt like I was barely holding on.

Suddenly, I had to live what I’d been preaching for so long. I had to personalize the truth that when I’m on my knees and answers seem so far away, I’m not alone. My world wasn’t falling apart but was falling into place exactly as God had planned, and his plans are perfect. I had to remember that he is always a good God and is still on his throne even amid my fear and pain.

There, at one of the scariest depths, I found freedom in surrender as he reminded me of his promise: “In the storm is where you’ll find me, and where you are, I’ll hold your heart. Come, find your rest in the arms of the God who won’t let go.

“Stop holding on. Just be held.”