Music speaks to me. Through it, so does God. He stirs emotion. He stirs me into action because of it. He counsels me through every chord and melody, causing tears to stream at words sent to sooth. It’s no surprise that much of my writing is birthed from song. Music stirs memory. Like a runner’s muscles that know what to do without thinking, music trains our mind to recall without thought where we were, what we were doing while listening to it, and we couldn’t run from the memories it brought to mind even if we wanted to.
When I heard Call Upon The Lord by Elevation Worship this morning, that’s what happened. I was right there. I was on my almost daily ride to work at the safe house.
Every day thinking, knowing I couldn’t. I wasn’t. I could never. I would never be. Big enough, powerful enough to heal the broken hearts of the women He called me to serve. It was a special anointing like I’ve felt doing nothing else. Nothing. I think it was because the stakes were so high – human hearts ravaged by human trafficking. Is there anything worse than evil and darkness encroaching at the hands of another person? It was pure evil that we were (and are) fighting in that ministry.
People would sometimes ask me how I could do it. And that was without their knowing how many hard things I’d see or hear, the brokenness that you just can’t even imagine. Some things too terrible to talk about. Some things I would, of course, never share because they were told in trust … and that has already been broken time and time again with the women whose wounded souls God brought for the purpose of healing, wholeness, and redemption.
This anointing, God’s grace, it’s the ONLY WAY to do the hard things He calls us to─no matter what the assignment.
When your heart is tender His grace is the gift He gives to not only get through, but to help others do the same. He wants His love and goodness to be felt and known by all. All. (Even the traffickers. Even the abusers. ) He died so that no one should perish. Sometimes that thought is hard to palate. We’re not nearly as merciful as the Lord is (or I’m not at least), even as He executes justice and draws people to repentance.
Make no mistake. None of us gets off scott-free. There’s grace, mercy, and love, but there is also justice and accountability. There’s change that takes place bringing redemption. If not, if hearts are hard to His love and don’t accept Christ’s free gifts of forgiveness, love, redemption, and ultimately salvation, there’s accountability. Hell. It sounds harsh, but when we think of atrocities such as human trafficking, aren’t we glad?
I’m glad. I’m glad God doesn’t tolerate evil forever. I’m glad it is NOT in alignment with His heart for us as humans. He wants us to love one another as we love ourselves, not use up another human being in degrading fashion that dehumanizes another living, breathing person made in the image of God.
There’d be days on my drive in (most days, actually) when I’d think to myself, I can’t do this without You, God. He’d given me that grace-gift well in advance to never forget I could NEVER do this assignment without Him.
I believe He also sent me the song Call Upon The Lord to help me not to become overwhelmed, to never carry the burden of caring for women who’d been marginalized and oppressed and so very deeply hurt.
Through the lyrics I’d be reminded to call upon the name of the Lord. At every turn. Through every adversity. Over every obstacle. I’d be reminded to duck from every spiritual hand grenade tossed my way by the enemy.
I had to get good at hearing God’s voice, navigating the spiritual “duck and weave” to avoid annihilation. The enemy hated me, still hates me, and hates all of us who try to do anything with, for, and because of Christ.
Don’t let that scare you. Listen to the song and call upon Jesus’ name. It’s the best advice I can give you, and myself whenever I need reminding.
Don’t let spiritual intimidation stop you! Call on the name of the Lord.
There were hard days and then there were days that felt like granite. (Or I knew would feel that way once I got into work from the flurry of text messages I’d sometimes get before stepping through the door.) Women in trauma recovery sometimes do difficult things to themselves and others. It’s hard for them to receive the help and healing. Sometimes hurt people hurt people. That’s hard too.
If you’re the helper, it’s sometimes hard to distance yourself from the emotion of hurt feelings, because the very people you are trying to help don’t see it that way. If you’ve ever been a parent and your children didn’t understand how much you loved them or wanted the best for them, you get the idea of what I might be referring to. There’s sacrifice. There’s love, care, and concern. There’s giving of boundaries and rules for protection and safety. Not everyone sees it that way. Not everyone will understand. Leadership is hard stuff.
Ask Moses! He was my spiritual buddy when I was overseeing that ministry. I read about him often. I could relate to him much. He was trying to do the right thing, but the people he was leading didn’t always see it that way. He made mistakes. He was human. But he did love God and he did try to do what God had in mind for him to do. That was me too. I was leading. Getting some things right. Some things wrong. Heart in the right place. And does anyone ever understand or empathize with the person in leadership? Nine times out of ten, no. It comes with the territory, with the privilege of being trusted to lead. It’s part of the gig.
Sometimes, that’s when I needed to call upon the power of Jesus’ name most. In my non-perfect, human way, that was the most frustrating, when the “healthy” among us were hard to deal with. But then I’d be reminded sometimes that was me too. Me too. Me too. We humans are stinking messy!
But we’re also amazing. Because of God’s amazing grace.
We have goodness that wells within us and spills out on others. Who do we choose to walk with? Light or dark? As it says in the book of Thessalonians, we are children of the Light. We should walk as children of the Light (1 Thessalonians 5:5).
Should be easy. Not always so.
Not even the best, kindest among us can do that 100% of the time without the name of Jesus guiding us. How do you think Mother Teresa did what she did?
The name of Jesus, of course!
Jesus’ name has the power to do the impossible. His name has the power to break every stronghold.
Jesus’ name has the power to break every stronghold. Freedom is ours when we call His name. Jesus’ name above every other. All hail the power of Jesus’ name. All hail the power of Jesus’ name. ¹
In the moments where I’d doubt. I’d doubt my calling. I’d doubt if I was good enough, strong enough. I’d doubt if I could do it. I’d doubt it was making a difference, I’d fight back with these words.
You promise never to forsake. What You began You will sustain. This we know. This we know. I will call upon the Lord for He alone is strong enough to save. ¹
I’d remind myself God started this, He’d bring it to completion. And as His Word says, He’d make all things beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11). How? I had no idea! But the lyrics were fuel for my soul to stir up my faith once again. Over and over. Like a washing machine tumbling clothes, scrubbing away the dirt and grime of the day, song lyrics would wash me afresh with hope. Hope that small acts over time would and do make a difference.
The more I let Christ cleanse me, the more He’d be able to use me to wipe a smudge from the face of one of my sisters.
Cleansing not easy stuff. But it’s good.
Allowing God to cleanse us takes courage. Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9).
Through this song, God would remind me in His sweetness toward me that He alone is strong enough to save. He gave me an antecdote for overwhelm so to speak. Every day (or almost every day) through this song He’d remind me I wasn’t strong enough to save. It was a beautiful gift. Don’t carry the burden. Love. Love which looks different based on each person’s need. Love. He’s saying to us right now, Love in the way I lead You to love.
As it says in the book of Jude, sometimes that’s with compassion. Sometimes, it’s with words that bring conviction. Sometimes, it’s mercy multiplied. Sometimes, it’s an infraction because a rule meant to bring safety and healing was broken.
A word of caution to us all, let’s try not to make a move without Christ when it comes to the tougher side of the love coin. Let’s stop. Let’s listen. Let’s ask God how to correct in love (or even if we’re supposed to). Sometimes we are, but sometimes we aren’t.
And sometimes the best gift we can give someone is to pray for them. Actually, the best way to execute discipline is only after praying about it. Makes sense. But it’s hard to do. Parents, ever punish your kids in the heat of the moment? Yeah. Exactly. We’ve all done it the “wrong way” once or twice. Ever try to “punish” your spouse through your actions because you were trying to fix things in your strength, not God’s?
Pause and pray. Let God’s voice lead.
I’d drive to work, beautiful roads canopied by trees if the season was right, singing those lyrics. Paraphrasing, not my job. Not my job. It’s Jesus’. And that’s freedom! I just need to do what He says when He says it, and everything will be okay.
Rise your shackles are no more. For Jesus has broken every chain.¹
And one of my favorite parts of the song which may or may not have invoked lots of arm and hand flailing in my car depending upon what the day ahead looked like.
Every enemy will have to flee as we declare Your victory. This we know. This we know.¹
Do you know anything with that level of certainty? Do you have that kind of reassurance? That no matter what the darkness tries to bring against you, it cannot win. It cannot win if you are in Christ. This we know. This we know. We are victorious. Declare it on good days. Declare it when you can’t see through the clouds and spiritual clutter that the enemy is trying to place in your path. Kick it out of the way!
This we know. This we know. I will call upon the Lord for He alone is strong enough to save. Rise your shackles are no more.¹
This is my prayer for you and me from Jude 20-21 NKJV
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And don’t forget to call on Jesus’ name.
How can you apply these truths to your own life?
QUESTIONS & ACTIONS
- Select a worship song (if you don’t know one, you could choose the one I wrote about today)
- Write the name of the song at the top of a blank piece of paper (or computer screen)
- Pray, asking God to reveal His heart for you and that He “speak” to you through the song. (I am agreeing with you in prayer in the name of Jesus that He WILL speak to you through the song.)
- Listen to the song in a place without distractions
- Pause at the end. Briefly pray a prayer of thanks to God and ask Him to bring REVELATION to you.
- Then, write down what comes to mind
- Is God calling you to something that feels beyond your ability? If so, how do you sense He wants you to respond?
About the author: Tracy Stella is a Christ-follower on the journey of life, seeking to see God and His will for her fulfilled on this great adventure. She feels compelled to share the story of God’s hand in her life with the hope that readers will search for and see God at work in their own lives. Jesus writes the greatest story of all. It’s called Redemption for those who are willing to surrender to His love and leading. I pray God continues to write a glorious story in each of your lives. Amen.
If you found this helpful or inspiring, consider sharing it with others. Thank you for reading and God bless!
¹Call Upon the Lord. (2016). On Here As In Heaven[CD]. Spectrum Center: Pastor Steven Furtick, Aaron Robertson, & Mack Brock.