I spent last week at a church camp in Orange Beach, AL, with my church’s youth group, and we had a great time. The worship leader was a musician named Stephen Miller. He and his band performed a lot of the typical worship songs, ones that most people there would instantly know and be able to sing along to. But my favorite songs were his originals, the ones we had to learn throughout the week. One in particular, called Our God Majestic, really spoke to me, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Hope is not always an easy thing to hold on to. We each constantly face the temptation to fall into the trap of discouragement. And I’ve been keenly aware of that struggle lately. My heart is heavy, the world seems like a pretty dark place, and I honestly don’t know that it’s going to get better anytime soon.

That’s why I’m so thankful for this song and the encouragement that it’s been to me. The lyrics, especially the first verse and chorus, have reminded me of truths that I really needed to hear, and I’ve been singing the lyrics over and over and over.

Every nation, every throne upon your shoulder.
Every government will bow to your command.
Even as the hearts of men are growing colder,
Your promise will stand.
Your promise will stand.

No matter how evil the powers that be in this world might become, God is still in control. They are still subject to him. He has chosen to allow evil and brokenness to have their reign for a time, but they are not the final word or authority. God is, and everything that takes place is doing so within the context of his divine plan. The powers that be in this world are only temporary; their reign will end.

After all, believers are not truly citizens of any earthly nation, and we don’t truly serve any earthly ruler. We belong to the kingdom of God, which is a different kind of kingdom with a different kind of king. It doesn’t rely on violence, hatred, or control to exercise its power. Rather, it is based on love, peace, and freedom. No matter what the nations of the earth may do, I know that I belong to a greater kingdom that is coming, and when it does, all will be set right.

It feels like the hearts of many are becoming cold. Like humankind is becoming callous to the atrocities taking place in our world. Like desensitization has completely set in and we just don’t care anymore. Like we’ve lost our collect sense of morality and compassion. But I can rest in the fact that God’s kingdom will always stand, and there will always be those who stay true to it and its principles. I can’t change others on my own, but I can be an agent of change in the world by seeking to make his kingdom a reality in my life. And if I put my effort towards this goal, then my work won’t be fruitless.

We take heart, for the Lord is here.
Our God majestic is greater than our fears.
There’s nothing broken that he can’t heal.
Our God majestic will wipe away our tears.
You’ll wipe away our tears.

God’s presence offers us a comfort unlike any other. We never have to be discouraged or afraid because no matter where we go or what situation we find ourselves in, he is always with us. And if he is with us, then he will take care of us. There is nothing more fulfilling or assuring than doing life with him.

He can’t protect us from every bad thing that happens. There are natural consequences of the world’s brokenness that simply cannot be avoided. And there are other evils that could be avoided but aren’t. Regardless, God can’t shield us from every pain, but he can heal us from every pain. He can heal me of the hurt I’m feeling. He can heal my loved ones of everything they’re going through. And he can heal every person who is oppressed, abused, neglected, and cast aside of the trauma and heartache forced upon them. My heart breaks for them, and even though there’s very little I can do for them, I can rest in knowing that God is with them, ready and willing to heal them of even the most tragic of pain.

And in the end, that’s exactly what he’ll do. He has an ultimate plan for the world, and that plan will come to fruition. When it does, all of the pain and suffering that we endure will be forgotten in light of him, his presence, and his healing. In the end, God will set all things right and make all things new. He’s able to do so, and he will in his time.

So if you’re like me and struggling with feelings of discouragement or hopelessness, I hope you’ll give the song a listen. It’s packed full of truths that we all need to hear from time to time. Maybe it’ll be an encouragement to you. It certainly has been to me. Thanks to Stephen Miller for writing and performing such a wonderful song. If you get a chance to listen to it, I’d love to hear what you think!

That’s all from me this week. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next Tuesday.