Is there a song that begins and in the first two notes you know…
“Here we go… I‘m gonna be a puddle?”
The first time I heard it and every subsequent time, this song has wrecked me…. Man, it reaches deep inside and surfaces what’s hiding there!
The first line summons weeping:
“Walking around these walls, I thought by now they’d fall…”.
(Tears are welling up as I type them!)
These lyrics bring up an IMAX-full-surround-screen in my head of Joshua and the Israelites walking around Jericho. (Joshua 6) God told them to capture the city and were successful at taking control of the exterior walls, but had not yet penetrated the city. Joshua, instructed by God, had the mighty army march around the walls with Pomp and Circumstance: carrying the ark, accompanied by priests and instruments. They did what God instructed. On the seventh day, with another trip around, some blowing horns and shouting… the wall fell flat!
Victory!!!… neat, tidy… in one chapter.
Yet, I imagine, if I were in the crowd, it would have not been so neat and tidy: questions, rolled-eyes, “my feet hurt”, “can’t we take turns?”, feelings of fruitlessness, making God look less than Almighty, “Again?”, possible exhaustion, etc.
This story speaks of conquering in God’s name, which certainly translates to prayer and fighting battles. Many things I talk to God about, have quick resolution! (According to me.) But, other major, heavy-weighty prayers stretch out forever without answers or intervention from God.
Sometimes, it seems I walk and walk and walk around those walls and nothing
happens. I give earnest pleas and focused intention, before God,
knowing He CAN intervene and BEGGING Him to!
From prior experience, I know, He CAN do something about it (move the mountain) and I desperately want Him to. It’s wearing to keep asking and wondering,
“Why haven’t these walls fallen down by now!?!”
When this song begins, all of those unanswered prayers flood my heart and my questions release in tears, sometimes uncontrollable tears. Sometimes, I have to stop singing; sit down. Sometimes, I have to explain to my husband, later, why I was such a wreck during worship that morning. It is a private place between God and me. At times, I have to face the truth… I don’t see God answering yet! It stings and hurts.
Then, the chorus hits:
Your promise still stands, Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands, This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet
I’ve seen You move, come move the mountains, And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
You made a way where there was no way, And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
Hallelujah….. rehearsing God’s faithfulness;
reminding myself what he CAN and HAS DONE
is the perfect medicine for my grieving soul!
I am still walking around walls, waiting to conquer not because He can’t or won’t, but because HE IS…. HE IS CONQUERING… the final results haven’t arrived yet!
While those Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho, God WAS answering. Just because the walls hadn’t fallen yet, the final climax/the visible result, doesn’t mean He’s not giving them the city. He is working things in them: obedience, consistency, reliance on Him, unification, practicing their faith (walking it out, you might say😉) etc. He may have also been working in the residents of Jericho.
I heard someone ask on a podcast: Why doesn’t God answer my prayers? The answer: HE IS! No questions or qualifiers. Just because you haven’t seen the result, you think God is not listening or answering. The truth is He IS answering, it’s just not instantaneous. He is answering, even if you don’t think you have THE answer.
“Do It Again”, is a great reinforcer of faith in God. I recognize areas of petition and striving with God for resolution and also, rehearse His faithfulness and His capabilities. It strengthens my soul and I rest in His hands!
Singing these words is a drop-to-my-knees moment, or more realistically, flat-on-my-face moment, for me!
“… I’m still in Your hands, This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet …”
Since the first time I heard it, about 9 months ago, every. time. … it. wrecks. me.!
Share in the comments below, what song “wrecks” you and why.
Walking & Waiting,
Feel free to share with a friend(s).
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Elaine Stone 