My Everlasting God

There’s a song we sing at church that I like to think of as “my song.” This seems very possessive, but I offer no apologies. In fact, I feel more guilt over the fact that there have always been other songs that speak to me as well, and that perhaps by singling this out, I am leaving out an important part of my life and past.
But, this song is not just wonderful: it is one that I feel as though I have an inside scoop on. Every part of it has a special meaning to me. And I think that if you sat and pondered every word...I mean every individual word...you would see the beauty and power of the song, too. Musically, I suppose the song is simple. Yet that simplicity aids in the power of the song. In fact, as much as I love and am even obsessed with music, this song could work as well as a poem or a chant. Or a prayer.
I am going to discuss each of the parts of this song, in order of appearance, because I think that the messages are ones that should be shared. The song is called “Everlasting God,” and it was written by Chris Tomlin.

“Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
Wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.”
Repeat

Okay, I must first mention that there are two versions. In the other one, the second line is, “We will wait upon the Lord.” I think the one I have written is more powerful. Here’s why. This can be sung as a wonderful chant, or mantra if you will. There are so many times in life that we get impatient. We want things to happen now. Or, in my case, we want answers, clarity. I recently heard a discussion in the car about how Mother Teresa refused to pray for clarity for a man. She instead prayed for trust. I don’t know if I agree with that entirely – you have to know that what you are doing is right. But the point is the same. God does things in His own time, and we need to wait for His schedule. So this chant is a wonderful way for me to stop being impatient and wait. And, perhaps unspoken, I am hearing in these words to listen to the Lord.
I think the wording is more powerful in the first version because of the change in presence. The first line is first person plural: all together we will wait upon the Lord. The second line is a command. “You – wait!” before going back to the collective style. I think this shows how we can work together and hold each other accountable. When a friend’s impatient, we can strengthen them with these words. “This is working for me, and I think you should do it. Let’s do it together.”

“Our God You reign forever.
Our hope. Our strong deliverer.
You are the everlasting God. The everlasting God.
You do not faint you won’t grow weary.”

Wow. Okay, this is my favorite part and the reason this song is so special to me. If you look at this chorus yourself and think about it, you will probably see that it conveys God’s strength. He lasts forever. He’s always there.
But I want to draw your attention to the word “faint.” It doesn’t say, “You won’t walk away….You won’t take a nap.” It doesn’t even say, “You won’t go so long without food that your blood sugar drops and you get really shaky and pass out.” The word is faint.
I can tell you all about fainting. It is a biological process in which, because of some weakness, the blood rushes to the feet, the heart, or outside the body, leaving the head empty. First you feel faint. Then, it feels as though someone has put earmuffs over your ears, and everything gets muddled. At this point, it is the point of no return. Your vision zooms out like a camera zooming out of focus, and then you wake up in a position very different from the one you started in.
Well, of course God doesn’t faint! But the way this is phrased just makes me feel so warm. And I don't know if I can even explain it, becuase it's such an experience personal to me. When I faint, there’s nothing I can do about it. At some point I pass that point of no return. I can’t control anything about it, and I hate that. But God doesn’t faint. He’s in control. He does not have any weaknesses. There is something that I physically cannot do for myself, something that I cannot control. But he does not have that problem. So even when I’ve fainted, he’s still running strong.
Yes, it would be so easy to say that God just never leaves our side or sleeps. But this word, "faint" speaks to me specifically. Even though I have never thought that God would leave, I suppose it makes me feel good to know that I am not the center of my life and also that when we finally go to be with Him, we won’t faint either.

“You’re the defender of the weak.
You comfort those in need.
You lift us up on wings like eagles.”

I think you could just read these lines slowly and thoughtfully to find the beauty in them. God not only stays strong, but he uses that power to defend the weak. When I’m down, he’s going to be watching over me. And non-physical weakness is so much worse than the physical kind, and that’s where He really steps in to defend us. He comforts us.
He lifts us up on wings like eagles. Ever wonder what heaven will be like? Ever wonder what it would be like to soar on an eagle (yes, I’m picturing riding the eagle). To fly without an airplane. Perhaps you haven’t. I think there’s something that drives some of us to the skies, which is why I learned to fly and why I can’t explain why I did it. But even for those of us who aren’t pilots, flying is an idealized form of traveling.
I cannot imagine the joy and freedom of soaring through the air, supported by absolutely nothing! Nothing!

So that’s my song. I suppose if you follow the words in order, it really gives a pretty good picture of a day in the life of a Christian. And perhaps hope for those who are still searching. First we wait. And the waiting’s hard. But God does not faint, he’s still there waiting to defend us and comfort us. And when he finally comes through, in his perfect time, we will be lifted up on wings like eagles: higher and better than ever before!