Here are some challenging questions concerning our spiritual life in Christ. Everybody has ups and downs in our confidence in salvation. Everyone struggles with the temptations of this world. All of us sin and need God’s forgiveness daily. I like the saying: Everybody makes mistakes – that’s why they put erasers on pencils.

Wait a minute! What about the questions concerning our spiritual life in Christ? Sorry – I digressed first rattle out of the box. The song by Tenth Avenue North asks some tough questions that also touch our heart and draw us closer to Christ as we ponder them. It’s a beautiful song with simple lyrics that are actually quite deep as we think about them. Here are some of the questions from the lyrics By Your Side:

1 – Why are you striving these days?

2 – Why are you trying to earn grace?

3 – Why are you crying?

4 – Why are you looking (in other places/people other than Jesus) for love?

5 – Why are you searching as if I (Jesus) am not enough?

6 – Where will you run child? Where will you run (to find meaning and peace in life)?

Read Psalm 46 and then listen to By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North. Spend some time today reflecting on the question posed in the song.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”