Show Your Hope!

Over the past 3 1/2 years, I’ve struggled in a “Season of Silence.”   I’m not going to lie to you and say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, because – well, I haven’t.  I’ve built walls around my heart hoping to prevent even the slightest penetration that could result in more heartache.  In doing so, I’ve isolated myself not only from the pain, but also from the joy.

I went from writing music on a regular, almost daily basis – to only writing 3 songs in 3 1/2 years (2 of them were in the past month and a half).  I went from passionately advocating for others to struggling to be my own voice for myself.  I went from being deeply enmeshed in my community (on and offline) to being an outsider.  I went from my clear path to feeling like a lost wanderer.

Folks, I was drowning.

I was drifting away from my ship,

and I couldn’t see the shore – all I saw was this angry, relentless sea of nonstop moments that pummeled me without mercy.

…And then I noticed it.  There was a life preserver the appeared in between the swells.

It was then that I had to make a choice – to swim to it with every last ounce of strength that I had left OR I could stay where I was and wait for someone to come and rescue me.

I decided that I had waited long enough…and I began to swim.

It was scary.  Every wave that crashed on me felt like it was pulling me under, and I feared I wouldn’t be able to resurface.  Every breath I took was a mixture of water and air…

But I got there….And when I took hold of the life preserver…

I noticed that it wasn’t floating aimlessly…It was tied to the ship that I fell from….

And that ship was anchored strategically in place…

Waiting for me to return.

So here’s what I want to say to everyone out there who feels they are lost their own ocean of moments that just keep crashing down on you…

The ship is still out there….

There’s a life preserver waiting for you deep within those waves.  And it’s tied to your ship…you can’t see that yet, but it is….

And your ship, it’s ANCHORED and it’s WAITING for you.

So don’t just tread water waiting for rescue, swim fiercely KNOWING that your life preserver is out there, and it will be your rescue.

Anchor

Out on a limb
Trusting in you
Full of the promise
Faithful and true

My Hope & My Strength
My Rock & My Shield
Heading for war
On life’s battlefield

But oh, my soul…
I get weary, you know
And I want to let go…

But don’t let me drift
Away with the waves
Come be my anchor
Help me to stay
Strong with your purpose
Clothed in your light
Armed with compassion
To do what is right

To mourn with the hurting
Through the darkest of nights
To walk with the broken
When there’s no end in sight
To give so completely
That none can deny
Your Love is my anchor
And it’s changed my life

No I won’t be shaken
I will not fear
I’ll stand in the knowledge
That you’re always here
With you I’ll move mountains
With you I am free
You’re my faith, my foundation
The compass in me
But, oh my soul
It is well, don’t you know?
It is well with my soul
Just don’t let me drift
Away with the waves
Come be my anchor
Help me to stay
Strong with your purpose
Clothed in your light
Armed with compassion
To do what is right

To mourn with the hurting
Through the darkest of nights
To walk with the broken
When there’s no end in sight
To give so completely
That none can deny
Your Love is my anchor
And it’s changed my life

To give so completely
That none can deny
Your Love is my anchor
And it’s changed my life

©HRM17 9/3/17

Love and Light,

Stefani