A Song for My Soul: I Am Right Here

Music has the ability to speak into the deepest recesses of our hearts. God often uses songs to speak hope and encouragement to our souls. In this series, Hope Moms share songs that have pointed them to the hope of Christ in the midst of their grief. Is there a song that has comforted you in your grief? We’d love to have you share your story here.

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For just a little while, this journey may seem more than you can stand.
But like a little child just come to me surrendering and I’ll take your hand!
And like a loving Father to His child, together we’ll stand!

Those words penetrated my heart and took my breath away for a moment the first time I heard them sung.

One Sunday morning, about 21 years ago, I was visiting a church to hear one of my favorite worshipers, Dennis Jernigan. He asked for any of those who recently lost a loved one to stand up.

I stood up. My son was stillborn 18 months before, but it seemed like the day before, so I stood.

Dennis explained he recently lost a dear friend and wrote a song he felt the Lord gave him during that painful period. He explained that he was going to sing it “over” us and asked us to hear it as if it was from our Heavenly Father’s lips to our own ears.

During the eighteen months after losing our son, I had time to grieve, and felt I had moved through the process well because I trusted the Lord—or thought I did.  I was looking forward to having another baby. Or, more specifically, another boy. After several months of trying for our “rainbow” baby, we found out I was pregnant with a girl. I was so grateful to be pregnant, but I had not considered the possibility that the Lord wouldn’t give us another boy. I realized the hope I had been hanging onto after losing Zach, was to have another boy, so when we found out a daughter was on her way, I reverted back a few steps in the grieving process. I thought I trusted the Lord, but what I realized is that I trusted the Lord to give me another boy. I didn’t totally trust Him.

For just a little while this load may seem much more than you can bear.
But like a little child just come to Me and trust Me with sorrow and care!
And like a loving Father to His child, I will be there!

So, on that Sunday morning as I stood up, I was harboring some anger because the Lord didn’t do it my way. But as the piano notes were struck, and the words flowed from the singer’s mouth, it was as if the words were coming straight from the Father’s heart to my heart.

Tears streamed down my face, as my sweet baby girl softly cooed, and I didn’t even try to wipe them away. I felt like I couldn’t move as the words washed over me.

The journey did seem more than I could stand, and the load more than I could bear.

Child, through every trial, every weary mile, every sorrow, every tear;
I am right here with you, here to hold and lift you, carry you!
I’ll be right here. I will not let you go.
I am right here and child, I love you so.

And He would be with me even if I didn’t have another baby at all. He would be with me no matter what struggle or trial I would face. As I struggled with the love I had for my lost child, when Dennis sang “child,” I was reminded how much my Heavenly Father loved me and my son.

I am right here. I will not let you go.
I am right here. And child, I love you so!

I stood and let the truth of the Lord’s love for me fill me and heal my heart. During those few moments while I listened to the song, my heart was completely healed.

That doesn’t mean I never again ached for my son or knew sorrow. But it does mean I knew my Father would be near in the hard, dark times, and I was filled with hope and peace.

In just a little while this pain may seem much more than you have known.
But like a little child reach out through
The dark night and know that you’re not alone!
And like a loving Father to His child, I’ll carry you home!

I stood in a room of over a thousand people, in full daylight, and reached out from my dark place to my loving Father, and He carried me. He has carried me for over 22 years. He has carried me through the loss of my son and other loved ones, and through the accident that caused my brother to become a quadriplegic.

He was right there. He still is right here with me.

Are you hurting? Do you need the Father to reach out and carry you? He will. He is waiting to take our sorrow and lighten our burden.

The Bible says the Lord will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8) and that He catches our tears in a bottle (Psalms 56:8). It also promises us that the Lord is near the broken-hearted (Psalms 34:18.)

You are not alone. Jesus is right there with you.

I know the song that helped heal my heart is an oldie but I would encourage you to listen to it. Get in a quiet place, turn it up, and hear the words as I did that day—from the Father’s heart straight to your heart.

Believe the truth that the Lord is right there and He loves His children. He loves you, Hope Mommy!

 

Shelly D. Templin is an author, speaker and blogger that shares a message of hope – with humor. She has three daughters, a son-in- law, and a granddaughter. Shelly lives in Texas with her husband, Jack, of 29 years and their two dogs.

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