Blessed Assurance (All My Attempts to be Satisfied)

CityAlight is one of my favorite song writing groups. This one from their 2016 “Only A Holy God” album is a sweet reminder of the blessed assurance we have in Christ.

 

This one hits closer to home for me as I reflect on what’s been going on in my life over the last few months, even years. For so many people, struggle has been a big part of life. Unpleasant circumstances and hardships of any kind equate to a test of faith for believers. And often it works out that the faith we have, whether big or small, does not rescue us from the circumstance but rather changes our view of the struggle and the power we give it over our lives.

 

In Hebrews 10:19-23, the writer tells us that through Christ, we can have confidence in our faith. As he writes it, we can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith”. He’s talking about the fact that we can draw near to God’s presence because of the atoning and cleansing work of Christ on the cross. If we have access to the presence of the Most Holy God, because of Christ and in faith of His sacrifice for us, what circumstances or hardships continue to hold power over us?

 

This is a hard thing to discuss. Because I myself struggle to allow God’s presence to override the suffering. I often give the suffering power and allow it to consume me. Then, I make seemingly endless efforts to fix or solve the problem so that I am satisfied. My desire to control the outcome clouds and blinds my judgment and I completely miss the fact that I have faith at all. That is where this song begins.

 

All my attempts to be satisfied
Were vain and empty
Until the moment you rescued me
And your love filled me

 

My soul sings
Now my soul sings

 

No other love that I’ve ever known
Compares to you God
No other love that I’ve ever found
Has done what you’ve done

 

What blessed assurance
I’ve found in you
I’ve found in you
I won’t be shaken I will not be moved

 

How steadfast your strong hand
Is keeping me
Is keeping me
I won’t be shaken I will not be moved
Oh blessed assurance

 

The bridge poetically centers our focus in times of trial. God is our anchor, our strength, our portion, all we need, our healer, our hope, and the truth.

 

Ever my anchor
Ever my strength
Ever my portion
And all I need
Ever my healing
Ever my hope
Ever the truth that leads me home
That leads me home

 

Whatever you may be experiencing in life, draw near to God. There are times where He heals and times where He comforts. But He always understands. Just as Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 12:9), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.

 

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