The Glowworm Song

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head but in a good way? A way where it’s more like a glow worm than an earworm? I find this happens regularly for me, I get a song stuck in my heart rather than my head. A soundtrack for a season and that song is like life to me.

There’s a song at the moment which plays on the speaker in my heart, night and day. I wake up to it, I go to bed with it, I ask Alexa to play it. It’s not always there but when I quieten my mind, I hear it’s melody and words.

This last season has been for me and continues to be, one where I haven’t really known the way ahead. It’s not a problem for me, it’s not the blind leading the blind but instead the one who sees all, leading the one who sees in part. Sometimes ‘in part’ means I see a clear route ahead in one or many areas of my life. Other times in part means, I see only him in front of me, telling me to just focus there and trust.

The time last year was full of heartache (not with a S/O – you’ve not missed anything there). I’ve had to let go of some ‘futures’ I thought were ahead, I’ve grieved and spent time processing, forgiving, resting. I realize now that although I’ve had some roads closed off, but the journey, the adventure – that’s still there.

Sooner or later, I knew in this heartache Holy Spirit would lead me to Isaiah, It’s where I camp when I need space. I began reading through the book alongside the reading plan I already had in place. The same word kept capturing my attention.

Which is one of the things I wanted a clear path ahead on from God! As a deacon in my church overseeing the music side of things, I find I am often reminded that worship is about our whole life and not just song. I wholeheartedly agree, but sometimes I think it means I forget how powerful song, singing, and music are. Yet the Bible is full of examples, endorsements, and exhortations to sing!

I’m not sure what God is speaking personally to me about, I’m still unwrapping this together with Him. I do know he is speaking though about singing.

by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash

I very rarely get stuck on a chapter and find myself unable to move forward. Perhaps because I’ve spent the whole year reading Colossians over and over again, it felt more natural but a few weeks ago I got stuck here:

Sing, barren woman,     you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy,     you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman     than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent,     stretch your tent curtains wide,     do not hold back; lengthen your cords,     strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54

The whole chapter just filled my heart but these first two verses, which are so familiar to me, struck me. It was as almost as if Holy Spirit rubbed off the awkward cliché and shined through showing me the treasure. The barren woman is encouraged (may I even say instructed) to “Sing” but not because she is no longer barren – no! She is to Sing in her barrenness. She is to prepare for birth, for more.

I don’t believe this passage is about the physical for me. It’s about the dreams, prayers and words I have lived with which have started to slip through my fingers. I felt barren in the personal promises of God to me. Here I felt the gentle hand of God encourage me to sing.

I’ve just started meeting with a ‘family’ of people on NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL an online course created by Wendy Mann. I’m starting to recognise some of the thoughts I’ve been living with, and in contrast, the exciting life Jesus has won for me! The adventure! He’s unwrapping something, and I am excited to be on this adventure with him.

Back to the song. The song that has lain on my heart, is one I need to sing out. So instead of pasting in the ‘professional’ sounding mix of it, I just thought I’d capture me singing it out. It’s not perfect, my runs and high range need work, I probably should have warmed up; but it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s truth and that’s what it needs to be

Until next time – Lou

(You can see original here)

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