What a Relief

By Chuck Spangler

Grace Memorial Parishoner

"Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord,; for thy lovingkindness is good.  Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble.  Hear me speedily. Draw near unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor; mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful; let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ~Psalms 69:14-30

What a relief!  “…You never said I had to climb these broken ladders…” 
But WAIT! There is a “catch”: “…all You ever wanted was my heart…”. 
God (as usual) combines life’s indescribably difficult challenges with His profound simplicity. 

Selah has been featured in previous Reflections and is one of the two (2) videos presented below.  Amy Perry’s remarkable voice solos on “Broken Ladders” in the first video. 
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Anthem Lights highlights the “ladders” in the second video and adds some beautiful acapella gospel at the end.
 
Cut: “Broken Ladders”
Artist: Selah

 You never asked me to be king, build my tower up to the sky…so why do I try?
You never asked me to be rich, buy the things that gold can buy…so why do I try?
All You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.
 
You never asked me to be complete, by myself find all I need…so why do I try?
You never asked me to stand alone, face the struggles on my own…so why do I try?
When all You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart
…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.
 
Cause all they do is take my eyes off of You, make me forget the truth.
All You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…oh You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.