I had recently done a blog on a song by Casting Crowns to go along with the series of blogs that I’d like to call-Stories Behind Songs. This blog focuses on another song by Casting Crowns. “Just Be Held” is off their 2014 album, “Thrive”.

This song describes any person’s journey through tough times in their life, and feeling as if the answers are so far away. The person may feel like they can’t go on anymore and that they don’t know where to turn to or how to turn to God. It says that life can hit us out of nowhere and we are left barely holding on. I’ve included the lyrics in order to give a better description. The first verse and chorus are as follows.

First verse: “Hold it all together. Everybody needs you strong. But life hits you out of nowhere. And barely leaves you holding on. And when you’re tired of fighting. Chained by your control. There’s freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go. Chorus: So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away. You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held. Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place. I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held. Just be held, just be held.”

The song suggests to us to just let go of everything that eve been holding on to and just be held by God Himself. It reminds us that we aren’t alone and that no matter what we are going through our world may feel like it is falling apart but in reality, it is falling into the exact place that it is supposed to. It’s all in God’s timing. He reminds us that we don’t have to keep holding on to the things that are causing us more harm and pain than good. We don’t have to keep a strong hold of things such as the pain of losing a loved one, the loss of a job, a child or another loved one being sick and in the hospital, even the uncertainty of how we are going to pay the bills each month.

Second verse and chorus: “If your eyes are on the storm. You’ll wonder if I love you still. But if your eyes are on the cross. You’ll know I always have and I always will. And not a tear is wasted. In time, you’ll understand. I’m painting beauty with the ashes. Your life is in My hands. Chorus: So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away. You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held. Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place. I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held. Just be held, just be held.”

The second verse reminds us to keep our eyes focused on things above and to keep our eyes focused on God as much as we can through any storm we may face in life. It even says, if our eyes are on the storms of life we will begin to wonder if He even loves us still, or if He even loves us at all. But. If our eyes stay on the cross, we will realize that He always has loved us and will always love us, no matter what.  Sometimes it may not seem as though God is there or that He cares even remotely. But the exact opposite is true-God loved us enough to die for us, willingly. If we focus on the bad things in our lives, constantly, we will definitely lose sight of the goodness that He brings to our lives every day. We just have to keep our eyes tuned in to the things He is saying us, showing us and teaching us, day by day.

If our eyes are on Him throughout our lives we will feel more peace and we will begin to know Him more and to feel His presence and His peace, even when the storms rage.  No tear is wasted, for He knows what us supposed to happen and how frustrating life can be at times. He understands the pain that we go through individually. He cares about each of us in His special way. He knows how to make a rainbow out of a storm. He can and is literally painting a beautiful picture of each of our lives, even through the pain that we face. We don’t see the bigger picture, because He is God and we are only man, but one day He will give us the privilege to know exactly why He had specific plans for our lives.

Bridge: “Lift your hands, lift your eyes. In the storm is where you’ll find Me. And where you are, I’ll hold your heart. I’ll hold your heart. Come to Me, find your rest. In the arms of the God who won’t let go.” This says that we have the privilege to talk to God at any time, day or night. If we feel lost, we can easily cry out to Him by lifting up our hands, our voices and our hearts to Him. It is okay to ask God why things happen the way they do, especially when you don’t understand why or how things are happening, or when you’re unsure of how to handle them.

He even says, Mathew 11:28“come to me all you who are burdened and weak and I will give you rest.” If He allows us to place our burdens before Him and on Him at any time, we should take Him up on it! He allows us every chance to find peace, take Him at His word that He will provide for you, even in your times of strife.

Watch the Youtube video of the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yutmTFtalKs