Because He Lives.

There's an old hymn that's been rolling around in my head lately and I love it so much that I can't just pick one line to share in this blog post--so here's a couple of verses:

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living  just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.


I've been singing this song ever since I was a little girl. I can remember standing next to my Grandpa in the pew of his tiny country church and listening to his voice sing these words, I can remember singing this in college and watching my best friend and I both wipe away tears from our eyes from the power of these words.

The promise and beauty of this hymn never leaves me. Isn't that Jesus? When He takes over your heart life just isn't ever the same. And I wish I could say that this hymn was rolling around in my head all the time.  That I was always so mindful of the promise of these words. That I lived without fear and in constant peace that God does hold my future. That in every moment of each day I lived in the truth and awe of the empty grave. Unfortunately, a lot of the time I get caught up in me. My desires...my fears...my plans.

Before I started writing this post I was sitting on the porch of the cottage I've been staying in with my parents on vacation this week. I've been sitting out here thinking about what's in store for me in the coming year...the next 6 months...the next 6 weeks. I was sitting here planning and dreaming and wondering with a little fear of the unknown creeping into all of it.

And then the hymn rolled back into the front of my mind. Just like God's grace rolls over my life again and again--day in and day out. I sang the chorus to myself under my breath and was reminded of the beauty that comes in trusting Jesus with it all. I'm thankful God knew I needed those words in that very moment--like He knows exactly what I need and always provides it for me in a way that surpasses my own timing.

So, I'll go to bed tonight with these words on my heart and I'll pray that He'll roll them over me again and again in all the times in between when I need reminding and because He's a living, merciful Savior, He will. Thank you, Father.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.