I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
We sang this song again tonight at youth group: it's one of our favorites both to play as a worship team, and to sing as a youth group.
This song is CRAZY fun... If you haven't heard it... wow, first of all. (Listen! http://free.napster.com/player/?play_id=18814736&type=track ) We love that this song is upbeat. We jump, dance, spin, sing as loud as we can. My one youth leader acts it out and just does anything crazy he can to make those leading laugh... but, do we ever stop to think about this song?
I AM laying down my sorrows... I AM laying down my shame... I AM laying down my sickness... I AM laying down my pain... I'm trading them for the JOY of the LORD!! We don't need to hang on to them. In our goofed up human-ness, we hang on to our sorrow and our pain. We find some sort of comfort and identity in it. But why?? The JOY of the Lord is soo much better! Why do I hang on to my sorrow? We've all experienced Joy at some point - the beginning of spring may bring it, I'm told that having a child brings it; maybe it's a gorgeous day in the sun listening to the birds sing that brings joy - there's no better feeling! Laying down our sorrows, shame, sickness and pain is a choice. God freely offers us His joy, but we have to choose it. I must chose to let His joy reign in me and not let the other define me or drag me down. I must focus on the good.
We say YES LORD YES LORD YES YES LORD!!! Am I truly saying "Yes Lord!"? Am I truly accepting the Joy He has stored up for me? Am I listening to His calls for me to give up those things I hang on to? Have I made the choice?
I am pressed, but I AM NOT crushed! I am persecuted, but I AM NOT abandoned! I am struck down but I AM NOT destroyed! Bad things happen to me, but My God and His Strength and Joy are bigger, stronger and better! He sustains and protects me. I cannot experience anything so that he couldn't or wouldn't protect me. He loves me.
I am BLESSED BEYOND the curse. No matter WHAT happens to me, HIS blessings are FAR greater than any negative that will happen to me!
His Promise WILL endure! He PROMISES to love, protect, cherish, bless, and sustain me. He promises his Strength and Joy. This promise is forever: it will not end, it will not run out.
The sorrow may last for tonight, but with the morning comes HIS joy!!
