Out of My Hands, by Matthew West

There have been many trials that I have had to overcome in my life. Many times, I couldn't think of a reason why they were happening. I cried myself to sleep on many nights, trying to figure out a reason why. I couldn't understand the pain I was going through or why I had to endure it. Very few things made sense to me during that time. I tried to make keep my life together, but it kept falling apart. I didn't know where to go or how to fix anything.

One day I was blasing my iPod, in hopes to find some comfort in music. This one song started playing. It talked about how some things were out of my control and that we should give them up to God. He is the only one who can make sense of all of our troubles and use it to do His will. He has a plan for our lives. We're not supposed to make sense of it all. If we do, we lose sight of what God's will for us. It's hard to surrender control, but when we're surrendering to God, we're not losing anything.

It's okay to say that it's out of hands.

Out of My Hands: Matthew West (Album: Happy)

There you go changing my plans again
There you go shifting my sands again
For reasons I don't understand again
Lately I don't have a clue

Just when I start liking what I see
There you go changing my scenery
I never know where you're taking me
But I'm trying just to follow you

It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
And it's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into your will
And it's out of my hands

There you go healing these scars again
Showing me right where you are again
I'm helpless, and that's where I start again
I'm giving it all up to you

It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
And it's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into your will
And it's out of my hands

Move me, make me
Choose me, change me
Send me, shake me
Find me, remind me
The past is behind me
Take it all away
Take it all from me, I pray

It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
And it's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into your will
And it's out of my hands

Bring the Rain, by MercyMe

Life wears me down. I get so frustrated over things I cannot control and have to work twice as hard to make up the difference. It's stressful, but it's the story of my life it seems. I try to handle it, but it gets the best of me all too many times. There rarely seems to be peace on those nights. I can't even relax or listen to music. It's all too much for me to handle. But we need those tough experiences to help us grow and achieve the plan God has for us.

Even though we're beaten down and weary, sometimes we need to take a step back and breathe for a moment. God never gives us more than we can handle. Not only that, but if we have God on our side, we can handle anything that comes our way. He is our shelter and strength throughout it all. Even when we're in such a tired state, our attitude needs to change. We need to be able to say "God, I don't know what life is going to bring me today, but bring it my way because I know we'll handle this together".

Bring the Rain: MercyMe (Album: Coming Up to Breathe)

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Chorus

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Place in this World, by Michael W. Smith

Lately, I've had to make a lot of tough decisions. Many things that have been happening in my life don't make sense to me. I think I have something figured out and then it gets turned upside down. I feel lost and confused, I don't know what to do. I try so hard to make the right choices, but I can't seem to find out where my place is in this world. I'm stuck between wanting to be an independent person and my own financial means.

Even though I know there's a purpose for everything, I still can't help but ask why I have to be in this situation once more. I keep looking and hope that something will eventually become clear. However, I can't find God's plan looking through my eyes. I need His help.

Place in this World: Michael W. Smith (Album: Go West Young Man)

The wind is moving
But I am standing still
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled
A heart that's hopeful
A head that's full of dreams
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems
Feels like I'm

Chorus:
Looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need Your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions
Down on their knees
Among the many
Can you still hear me
Hear me asking
Where do I belong
Is there a vision
That I can call my own
Show me I'm

Chorus

You Know Where to Find Me, by Matthew West

As our Father, Friend, Counselor, Comforter, and Keeper, God holds many titles. Though we don't always feel Him by our side, He is there. He's comforted us through our darkest times, led us through times of turmoil, and listened to all of our problems without complaint. However, we seem to take Him for granted.

He is there no matter what and yet we blame Him when everything seems to go wrong in our lives, or when things we can't explain arise. No matter what we go through though, He promises that He is always by our side. We will always know where to find Him in our hour of need.

You Know Where to Find Me: Matthew West (Album: Happy)

I saw your sky fall down today
Suddenly turn from blue to gray
'Til one by one the raindrops
Turned to tears upon your face
Wish there was something I could do
Wish I could ease the pain from you
But I've never felt so helpless
It's like you're drowning right in front of me
And I'm reaching out but you can't see
There's something holding on to you so tight
So I guess this is all I'll say to you tonight

If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I will be waiting
Where I've always been
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I have never left you
I'm where I've always been
Right by your side
Right by your side

If the whole wide world is on your back
If the strength you need is the strength you lack
If you're in a crowd but all alone
If you can't stay here but you can't go home
If you can't answer all the whys
'Cause you're too tired to reach that high
I want you to remember

If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I will be waiting
Where I've always been
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I have never left you
I'm where I've always been
Right by your side
Right by your side

If the whole wide world is on your back
If the strength you need is the strength you lack
If you're in a crowd but all alone
If you can't stay here but you can't go home
If you can't answer all the why's
'Cause you're too tired to reach that high
I want you to
I need you to remember

If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I will be waiting
Where I've always been
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I have never left you
I'm where I've always been
Right by your side
Right by your side

House of Mirrors, by Tenth Avenue North

Lately, I've been struggling a lot with my body image and a lot of other personal issues. While at work one day, this song started playing and I was amazed that God knew exactly what I needed. I define myself too often by what the mirror reflects and not enough by what God thinks of me. It's going to be a struggle, but I need to throw the mirrors down and just let the fact that God loves, believes, and has set me free be enough.

House of Mirrors: Tenth Avenue North (Album: Light Meets the Dark)
You can’t seem to see past your own reflection
Caught up in the halls of your introspection
And you’re staring at your mirror on the wall
Asking “who is the fairest of them all?”
‘Cause Lord I know, it’s not me
If only you could see
That you’ve already been set free

Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground

Well you say “hold on, if I could just try this one thing.
Well I know I can change and that would change everything”
But a house made of mirrors never helped you see any clearer
It’s yourself you can’t see past
And Lord, isn’t that just like me?
If only we could see, that He’s already set us free

Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground

Oh, oh
Freedom’s waiting for you now
So come on, come on
And throw your mirrors down

Come on, if you’re tired take a step outside
You might find that you can forget about yourself tonight
Oh, come on if you’re tired of failed attempts to try
Freedom’s waiting when you look outside
Come on, if you’re tired take a step outside
You might find you can forget about yourself tonight
Yeah, come if you’re tired of your failed attempts to try
Freedom is waiting when you look outside

Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground
Freedom’s waiting for you now
So come on, come on and throw your mirrors down