Jesus Strong and Kind

A few weeks ago, after bringing a prayer request to the women in my Life Group for wisdom with parenting my four-year-old through some fears, one of the women sent me a song to play for him. I had heard the song before, but it was with new ears that I listened as I thought about my son, his current struggle with fear, and ultimately what I want him to know to be true of Jesus even in the darkest seasons and the uncertainties of the future.

A couple of weeks after this particular song was sent to me, I was having a difficult day, struggling to keep my mind “stayed on Him” and was feeling that my fear was driving my thoughts, my words, and my actions. As I got into the car with the kids, I put on the song to turn my mind to Christ. From the backseat, my son said, “Mama, why are we listening to this song?”, remembering that I had played it for him before. I told him that Mommy was having a hard time remembering that God was in control, and I needed to play a song that would remind me of what I know to be true of Jesus. We listened to the song, I sang, and prayed, with the voice of my son singing along in the backseat. After the song was over, he intuitively asked me if I needed to listen again. My four-year-old son, at this early age, displayed an understanding that I often struggle to grasp: I need to keep going back to God in faith that He will renew my mind and incline my heart to trust Him.

I recently have been reading through 1 Kings. In Chapter 17, Elijah predicts the drought that was to come. Not long after, in 1 Kings 18, Elijah hears the sound of rain and sends Ahab to eat and drink. However, when Ahab gets there, there was no rain. So Elijah told him to “Go again,” not one or two more times, but seven times!

“And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” 1 Kings 18: 44-45

It is not through one song, one prayer, or one quick read of Isaiah 41:10, that my heart is changed. It is not through a quick glance at my Bible, or a rushed prayer before bed that my faith is deepened, and my burden lifted. It is a repeated turning to him. A continued drawing from the well, trusting Him to fill me and strengthen me, that my soul will be stilled. It is by filling my heart and mind with constant reminders of who He is to me, so much so that these truths are louder and more present than the news articles, the gloomy predictions, and the uncertainty of the future. His promises are true, and if we must go back to these promises seven times, fifty times, or every single day for the rest of our lives, He will prove faithful.

The song I am sharing today is called Jesus Strong and Kind by City Alight for what better truths are there to run to than His strength and his kindness in these uncertain times? I have sought to cling to the truth that God is unchanging as each day, the news, the restrictions, and the numbers all change. But God, in His strength and in His kindness, has not and will not change. He will continue to be as strong and kind today as He was yesterday. This song reminds us multiple times that we should come to Him: when we thirst, when we are weak, when we fear. But the best part of the song is the reminder that we don’t need to wait or to rely on our own unreliability to come to him because He, in his goodness and faithfulness, has come to us. He died on the cross and rose again. He sent his Spirit to dwell within us. We have all that we need in Jesus, we just need to believe that He is all He says to be. So let us keep running to Him. He will, in His strength and kindness, be more than enough and will bring you the peace, strength, and hope needed to face all of the uncertainty that is ahead. So give the song a listen (or maybe  even 2!) 

Jesus, Strong and Kind by CIty Alight:

 

Jesus said that if I thirst

I should come to Him

No one else can satisfy

I should come to Him

 

Jesus said, if I am weak

I should come to Him

No one else can be my strength

I should come to Him

 

For the Lord is good and faithful

He will keep us day and night

We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

 

Jesus said that if I fear

I should come to Him

No one else can be my shield

I should come to Him

 

For the Lord is good and faithful

He will keep us day and night

We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

 

Jesus said, if I am lost

He will come to me

And He showed me on that cross

He will come to me

 

For the Lord is good and faithful

He will keep us day and night

We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

 

For the Lord is good and faithful

He will keep us day and night

We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

Jesus, strong and kind