I love this song because it reminds me that God meets me in my weakness. That what he wants from me is not self-confident goodness, but for me to admit my poverty and frailty. That when I'm broken I am strong, for my brokenness moves me away from self-reliance and forces me to cry out to him. That even the weakest faith will find in Jesus a strong resting-place.
Of course, I seldom get to hear a song all the way through. Here's how my listening time went yesterday ...
The ice is thin enough for walkin'At which point this song, like all the songs we listen to in the car, was interrupted by a voice from the back seat:
The rope is worn enough to climb
My throat is dry enough for talkin'
The world is crumblin' but I know why
The world is crumblin' but I know why
The storm is wild enough for sailing
The bridge is weak enough to cross
This body frail enough for fighting
I'm home enough to know I'm lost
Home enough to know I'm lost
It's just enough to be strong
In the broken places,
in the broken places
It's just enough to be strong
Should the world rely on faith tonight
Thomas (4) - Mum, what's this song called?
Jean (39) - "Faith enough."
Thomas - What's that mean?
Jean - Faith means trusting in Jesus. So "faith enough" means...
Thomas - I know, it means enough to be stwong!
Jean - Yes, you're exactly right! Thomas, you're a sweetheart. (Somewhat off the point, I admit, but he was being pretty cute.)
Thomas - Why?
Jean - Because God made you a sweetheart.
Thomas - I love you.
Jean - I love you too, darling.
We now pause to insert a collective "aaaw". And continue with the lyrics:
The land unfit enough for plantingMay God open our eyes to our blindness and need of him.
Barren enough to conceive
Poor enough to gain the treasure
Enough a cynic to believe
Enough a cynic to believe
Confused enough to know direction
The sun eclipsed enough to shine
Be still enough to finally tremble
And see enough to know I'm blind
And see enough to know I'm blind
It's just enough to be strong
In the broken places,
in the broken places
It's just enough to be strong
Should the world rely on faith tonight ...
"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are stronger at the broken places" is from Earnest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms - a book which is now on my to read list.
1 comment:
I love that Hemingway quote - it went straight into my quote file - and I'd love to hear that Jars of Clay song some time. What amazing lyrics. It's amazing the impact songs have on kids and adults. Thomas is obviously taking it all in. Ruth
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