"By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue

"By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue

by Kristina Voelker on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 8:59pm

Isn't it funny how a certain song comes on exactly when you need it too? I was sitting in my car tonight and this song came on. I have been praying for direction in life...once again and just really upset about things going on in my life and just really been getting down on myself. Its hard to understand how going to school for five years and getting a degree could get me no where in life. I mean obviously thats not true, but I had some things said to me a few weeks ago that have been getting to me ever since. I don't know why I let certain things I hear upset me so much but I do. But anyway tonight this song came on as I was sitting in my car upset. The first line I noticed was, "why are you crying? LEt me lift up your face just dont turn away." It caught my attention because it made me realize even though I have felt so distant from God lately, He is right there. He knew I was upset. He knew I was crying. He knew it all along. I wasn't alone in my car even though I thought no one saw me. He was there. I have been praying not only for direction but praying and trying to get that "first love" feeling back for Him. And that's when I heard next few lines, "Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching as if i'm not enough? To where will you go child? Tell me where will you run to where will you run" Through this song, God spoke to me. I always feel like I can't hear God speaking to me, but randomly I hear the same messages over and over or a song comes on right at the right time to remind He is there. That's how it was tonight, God proved to me He was there. "cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall In the dead of night whenever you call." God is there for me. He is right by my side walking each day with me. And tonight He questioned me and challenged me. Why am I looking for love? Why am I searching? He is enough for me. I know that, but sometimes I have to be reminded. "And please don't fight these hands that are holding you. My hands are holding you. cause I love you I want you to know...that I love you. I'll never let you go." God loves us so much...more than we can ever imagine! He loves us so much that He gets jealous for us. This song brought back a sermon I heard at Legacy on God is a jealous God. God really is a jealous God! He gives us so much love and yet we find ways to love this world and things in it more than God himself and sometimes we have to be reminded that God needs to be number one. I realized tonight, I have let my worries, spending time with others, and work take up more of my time than spending time with God. No wonder I have had such trouble finding that "first love" that I once had with God. I know God is in control of my life and no matter how much I mess up or fall away from him, he is there right next to me pulling me back up when I fall. He has never let go of me. I may be fighting his hands that are holding on to me, but he didn't give up and He wont give up. I know that I will never know what tomorrow holds, but that if God is first in my life and I am striving to do as He has planned for me then I am going in the direction he has for me. All I can do is pray each morning that ever step I take is a step closer to the plans he has for me. I may not see those plans now, but looking back on my life...especially my college days, I know that I am on the right path and when I start going on the wrong path, he has pulled me back on the right track. I pray that I can find His will for my life and that I am on the right track, but when I look at my life. I am 25, a college graduate, with a job that pays very little and living with a family and not on my own. I feel like my success has got me no where, but I know there are things in my life that has happened this year for a reason. God doesn't put us in storms, but He allows us to go through them. These storms of life brings us or others closer to Him. We may not see or understand now why we are going thru the things that we are, but someday we will know. We can look back on our lives and see how God had his hand on each situation and how He brought us thru each struggle.

If you haven't heard this song, I encourage you to listen to it. It really is a powerful song and it really challenged me. Although this song didn't point me to a certain direction on life, it reminded me that God is in control. He has been there right next to me all along. He has been holding my hand, directing my path. He loves me and will not let me fall or keep down. If I fall, he is there to lift me back up.

Life really isn't that bad for me. I have an amazing family, a job with great co workers, a great boyfriend, and a place to live. It may not be my own place, but I am blessed to have a place to sleep. Im his timing he will show me the right place for me and the right job. I just have to be patient and let him direct me.


Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if i'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run to where will you run?

cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When i drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in and give you life
I wanna give you life

And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

cause I love you I want you to know
That i yeah i love you I'll never let you go
No no

And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Here at my side
My hands are holding you