Songs That Speak To Me; Part 4: Far Away
“A lotta people wonder if you still care
And are You still there?
Cause I lost it all,
I keep calling Your name,
But do You hear my call?
And are You still involved?”
I felt like this was a very fitting song to present at this point in time. Lecrae released this song as a charity single to benefit victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. This disaster destroyed lives, families, and properties.
In the midst of our current situation with a global pandemic, there are no doubt those who are asking, “Where are you, God?” It’s easy to believe and trust in God in the good times. But when the hard times come, and our faith is being tested, often that belief can disappear, or at least become shrouded by fear and anxiety.
Maybe we’re praying, and not getting the answer we want. Maybe we’re looking around, and everything just seems like it’s getting worse. We feel like God is distant. We feel like He’s far away.
“They say You feel my pain, they say You went through it, say to die is to gain. But I ain’t gained nothing, I lost everybody. Now I’m losing my mind and my faith is all I got and I’m still holding on”
If you feel alone or forgotten, you’ve got nothing on Jesus. He was rejected by His own father, in the midst of a situation with unimaginable despair. But He went through that rejection so that you would never have to.
As a part of forgiveness of sins, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross removed that eternal separation from God.
In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Lecrae paints a picture of something we all can relate to.
Feeling helpless and alone.
But in the midst of hardships and trials, we can have confidence that God has not forgotten us, and He never will. Faith may be all we have, but it’s more than enough.
I know the God I follow is bigger than disaster, big enough to handle any evil that harasses. But I feel like He passed us, pain overtook us, buildings tumbled overhead as the ground shook us. God, have You forsook us? Lord, You still with me?
I see so much inner turmoil in these lines. I feel it. I see someone in the midst of a battle and trying to figure out if God deserves their trust.
Evil is an ugly thing, and it’s not a part of God’s nature. So when we declare God as sovereign over everything, why do the bad things happen? Is God not powerful enough to end all this evil?
Actually, He’s so powerful that He can use the evil for good as it says in Romans 8:28. He’s done it all along, He’ll continue to do it.
Evil had Joseph imprisoned in Egypt. God used it for good.
Evil had Paul on the road to Damascus. God used it for good.
Evil had Jesus on the cross. God used it for good.
And one day, He will also vanquish evil entirely, eternally.
“For God alone, oh my soul, wait in silence. For my hope is from Him. He is my only Rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory. My mighty Rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times people, pour your heart out before Him. God is a refuge for us”
It’s such a powerful thing when Christians take the promises of God for what they are.
The promises of God overcome any odds.
They break down the walls of fear and doubt.
They keep us safe from evil.
They hold us steady in the midst of the storm.
They are a mighty rock and an impenetrable refuge.
And God’s promises are there for whoever will call out for them.
This is the turning point in the song. It’s the point when the writer sees that with God, even in the midst of evil, we need not fear. It doesn’t matter if you feel surrounded at every turn. God is always just a little bit nearer.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4
My favorite part of the song is actually a contrast between two parts. The chorus for the first few verses is essentially the writer declaring that God feels far away.
“(You feel) Far away, (You seem) far away. (You’re so, You’re so) far, far away”
The last chorus will pass right by if you’re not listening. It is subtly, yet fundamentally different. It encapsulates finally understanding that as Christians, God is never far away. Through the darkest valleys, over the highest mountains, God will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
“(He’s not) Far away, (He’s not) far away. (You know my God is not) Far, far away. (He’s not) Far away, (He’s not) far away, (Even though He seems) Far, far away.”
The journey from “God is so far away” to “God is right here with me” through acknowledging who God is, and what He can do, speaks to me every time. I pray it does the same for you.
Find the last installment of Songs That Speak To Me here.
