Your River Runs With Love For Me

Last month, I was going through a mini-crisis. You know, the one you have pretty frequently in your 20’s because life is annoyingly difficult when you can’t forget your worries and go play with the neighbor kids. It was just one of those weeks.

And as I cruised down Meridian Street, offering a whine/cry to God, I found myself humming a song. It wasn’t until later that I consciously recalled what it was. And I was quite surprised. The tune that was stuck in my head was one I hadn’t heard in over ten years:

“Over the mountains and the sea,
Your river runs with love for me,
And I will open up my heart
And let the healer set me free.
I’m happy to be in the truth,
And I will daily lift my hands:
For I will always sing of when
Your love came down.”

It’s moments like that when I just have to stop and give an audible, “Woah, God!”

Because He knew that I was longing for complete freedom, knew that I was feeling isolated and anxious and all around unworthy. He knew.

So He gave me a song.

Why? Because that’s who our God is.

Somewhere, tucked in my brain, is a folder of childhood memories–chlorinated summer afternoons, breakfasts with dad, and all those 90s Christian songs that I’d sing along to in the backseat.

And the Holy Spirit plucked one of them out and set it on my lips. Is that not incredible?

The situation (which has happened multiple times, and is no less cool each time it happens) brings two thoughts to mind. First, our God is intentional. He wants to be intimately involved in every facet of our lives. So much so that He smiled at ten-year-old Hannah belting out, “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” and He said, “I’m going to use that to encourage her 13 years from now.

Friends, that’s who God is! His love spans decades and it spans situations. He does not stop pursuing us, using every little moment to remind our wayward hearts that He is mighty to save and He’s never left us.

What would it look like for you to believe that tonight? To live in it.

Second, whenever God uses memories from my childhood to reaffirm my faith, it makes me incredibly thankful for the way Jesus was platformed in my childhood.

Parents: Those little devotionals and car-ride sing-alongs do make a difference. They are getting in your children’s hearts and minds. They are part of a foundation that, Lord willing, your children will draw upon for the rest of their lives.

But the discipleship doesn’t end there. Even as adults, every song we sing and TV show we watch is adding to our bank of memories and shaping the people we are. Is that encouraging? Convicting?

For me, it’s a little bit of both. But there’s one thing I take comfort in: No matter how often we fail or fall or freak out, His grace is offered abundantly and His mercies are new every morning.

So whether you’re needing a fresh dose of grace today or you feel pretty capable of taking on the world, grab hold of that. For, “Over the mountains and the sea, [His] river runs with love for [you].

So sing.

Love,

Hannah