Whatever Comes

Last week I was chatting to a friend who hasn’t always found life easy. Concerns about family, work, church and health have affected his mental well-being. He told me that this Rend Collective song has particularly helped him. It’s a song I’ve heard before but don’t know well…

Lord, whatever comes
Make me steadfast, make me rooted
A cedar planted firm, deeply grounded in Your goodness
Whatever comes.

Lord, whatever comes
Be my bedrock, keep me steady
Loyal to Your throne, whatever stands against me
Whatever comes.

Be my bravery when I am trembling
Be my courage when my heart is caving in
Be the fireside when I am wandering
Be my Father, whatever comes.

Lord, whatever comes
Be my soul, be strong as iron
Bending only when, when I kneel before the “I Am”
Whatever comes.

‘Lord whatever comes’ is a personal prayer about my unknown future. It speaks to my weakness, uncertainty, anxiety. On a bad day, when I see that life for me and my family is out of my control, I reflect on others going through tough times and wonder what could happen to us…

Four pictures:

Whatever comes… I pray that, with my God’s help, I’ll be like:

…A tree, growing securely, firmly rooted in God’s goodness …A house, built on a solid foundation, able to withstand any opposing forces …A child with his loving Father by a fireside, warm, content, resting in His courage …An iron bar, strong enough to withstand pressure, reliable to those around me, strong because I’ve bent to Him.

Whatever comes… In days when I’m insecure, cowardly, feeling useless and incompetent, wanting an easy, uncomplicated life, or an easy way a way out… On this, the first Sunday in Advent when many Christians will focus on ‘Hope’… This is a good prayer:

Be my bravery when I am trembling
Be my courage when my heart is caving in
Be the fireside when I am wandering
Be my Father, whatever comes