I sat on the choir platform, and my eyes floated in pools as we sang.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
It was our last Sunday in this church.
The church we called home in a state we called home.
Our family.
It was my last Sunday as part of this 100-voice choir.
The choir that had stood en masse when our son was baptized.
We were moving home.
To our home state.
To be near our family.
With two adopted babies.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He lives!
We acted on a whim.
And the whim seemed to whiz out of our control.
Doors flew open.
A job found.
The family home reclaimed from “foreign” owners.
Current home snatched up in a sellers’ market.
Had we not knocked, how would the future have differed?
Better?
Worse?
Only He knows.
Because He holds.
The future.
And I hold now another baby.
A grandgirl.
And her older sister.
I don’t know what the future holds.
For them.
For us.
But I know He holds it.
And them.
And us.
And then one day, I’ll cross the river
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to vict’ry,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. ~Proverbs 23:18 (NASB)
Note: Hope = tiqvah.
Read the story behind the song here.
Linking to Peter Pollock’s One Word Blog Carnival on Future where you can taste other words.
good story.
🙂
Lovely! And true. What a comfort.
Thanks, Jeanne. Certainly makes the future easier to face. And the past.
nothing’s more exciting than the blank page of possibilities that come with a move… may you know Christ in new ways through your adventure. thanks for writing
Life is an everyday adventure. This happened over 20 years ago. 🙂
Beatutiful imagery. It is indeed a walk in faith to start over, even if it is returning home. Always a tug at the heart to leave behind the people and country you have grown to love. We are indeed blessed to have God in the lead.
Indeed. And such a blessing that He can use technology to help us make new connections and grow the old.
I used to have a plaque that read, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know the one who holds the future.”
It was a good reminder … just as your post is.
Amen, Susan. Thanks.
What an amazing story
Thanks, Michael. Still praying for you.
I’ve experienced the same…it is amazingly wonderful and wonderfully crazy at the same time when God starts uprooting and sending you somewhere…
We really do not need to know what the future will bring. We only need to know who holds the future. Scary sometimes, sure. But so wonderful! That’s why we can rest in God’s strong arms and stay put until the next uprooting process begins…
Thank you for such a touching post!
Blessings!
Thank you, Mari-Anna. We can still flourish in the uprootings as long as we stay connected to the Root. 🙂
Without Him as our hope, how could we bear it all?
Couldn’t.
Which state are you moving to?
This was over 20 years ago–when we moved from Georgia back to Michigan.
Going Home is such a joy, but leaving behind loved ones brings a tear to our eyes. Your song is one of my favorites, and he does hold all of our todays and also ours and their future. Such a sweet and touching post.
And we’ll ALL be together someday. Isn’t that cool? Thanks, Hazel.
I’m smiling over every line of this, and thanking God for the place He’s planted you … for now. 😀