God’s in it for the Long Haul

Y’all know by now that one of the ways God speaks to me is through songs. Even a song I’ve heard (but not heard) many times can one day trigger something in my spirit, causing me to listen to the song online, while reading the lyrics. The God Who Stays by Matthew West is one of those songs; it’s been out since 2020, but I just ‘heard’ it for the first time a few days ago.

West starts out by wondering why God hasn’t given up on him yet, because he feels like a lost cause. But God doesn’t see us that way and He waits out our pity party, until we’re ready to accept that He’s not going anywhere…He’s the God who stays. If Jesus walked among us, like He did with the disciples, we’d see His footprints in the sand next to ours.

Have you ever gotten in a real jam and all the ‘friends’ you thought were your friends are suddenly too busy to help or they’re ashamed to be seen with you in such a predicament? Like the father of the prodigal son, West sings about God running in his direction when the whole world walks away. They say it’s lonely at the top, but it’s lonely at the bottom too when you’ve fallen and you’re all alone. But we’re never really alone, not when we can remind ourselves that our Father is the God who stays. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The bridge of this song is what captured my spirit and inspired this HOPE Note. (paraphrasing) “Nothing can separate my heart from the God who stays…not my guilt, my shame or my past. My sins, my scars, not even my failures can separate me from Him, I’m His forever. No enemy can separate, no power of hell can take away, Your love for me will never change, I’m yours forever.” No matter what we do, He will NEVER stop loving us. NEVER. That should give you hope when you’re feeling hopeless.