I’m going to be blunt here- Oceans by Hillsong is a go-to Christian song for most everyone and can sometimes be overused. It’s a quote that we paint on canvases to hang in our rooms, or used as Instagram captions or bios. When people ask for our favorite Christian song, this is always the answer. Yes, all of this is true and isn’t necessarily bad, but if we actually dive into the lyrics deeper and unpack what they hold, what truth we can find?
In 2013, when this song was released, it was impossible to stop listening. Me not knowing what the heck being a believer meant would watch the slides click through at church and sing along, as I always did. Did I have any idea what “You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail” meant… absolutely not. I honestly was probably thinking about literal water and an ocean, I have no idea. It definitely not was the truth of a sovereign Lord who has us so tight in his arms that we can never drown.
Now, I could go on and on and talk about each line of this song and show off what amazing powers the words have, but I want to stick to just a few because these ones have really struck home these past few months. No blog post can’t come with a little back-story though so let’s start there. I’m a student at the University of Arkansas, yes yes. So every Monday night, there’s this thing called “Schoolhouse”. It’s probably one of the coolest concepts I’ve ever been apart of. Schoolhouse is hosted by a group of God-fearing guys who want to open their home as a safe place to worship and praise the Father and that’s exactly what happens. Every Monday, I walk into a home welcoming college students who are ready to get their sing on and I never know what to expect. I mean I know there’s going to be lots and lots of singing but I can never predict how my heart is going to move or the things I even begin to pray about. It’s amazing. We spend two hours in solid worship surrounded by peers lifting their hands high, bowing their knees in prayer, and opening their hearts to hear Jesus. Okay I’m getting to the part about Oceans now.
Oceans is a song sang every now and again and is always a good one. But in the past I’ve never understood the weight of the words I was actually singing. So I’m at Schoolhouse at the beginning of the semester and you guessed it, we sang this song. But it was different. Matt was singing (Matt has no idea who I am but we’re definitely on a first name basis) and we got to the bridge… I think that’s the right musical term.. anyways. It goes “Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders. Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior” Before we sang that part, Matt asked everyone that if they knew what that meant and were actually allowing God to take them deeper, then sing loud, but if we never open that door to the Lord and aren’t living out these words, then spend that time in prayer asking the Lord to help you with that. I think it’s in that moment that I understood what Jesus was trying to tell me through this song. It just hit me
This song tells the story of Peter in Matthew 14. The disciples were out in the boat when they saw “a ghost” walking on water. They were terrified and cried out. Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter says to Jesus, “Lord if it is you tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come”, He said. Peter stepped out of the boat but saw the wind coming and got scared, crying out “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “Why did you doubt? Peter doubted Jesus and lost faith for a moment, but so instantly called out to Jesus for help. Jesus was there to save him and lift him up, but what Peter didn’t understand is that Jesus was going to be there all along, ready to catch him. We grow weary sometimes, but the beautiful truth is that Jesus is going to be right there with us, allowing us to never fail.
For so long, I’ve been trying to control my path and what happens in my life. So content on relying on my own needs and doing whatever it takes to fulfill them. Up until this point, I haven’t allowed the Lord to take hold of my heart and send me where he needs me or use me for His purpose; I’m using me for my own desires. I’ve been holding on tightly to the reigns of trust with Jesus and only giving him a little bit here and there when I absolutely needed him. Jesus has plans for us that go way beyond anything we could ever even imagine. Isaiah 58:11 say, “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
I pray that I have faith in the Lord that is unceasing and relentless. I pray that I will be ready and available to answer my call to commission. I pray that I can step out into the unknown with Jesus in raw, complete faith in Him. I want Jesus to be the one thing that will hold me up for eternity. I pray for a pliable heart that is willing to worship, ready grow, and open to listen in to hear the voice of God. I pray that I can trust Jesus in moments that I’m unsure and when they do come I slow down, watch, and listen. I pray that I lean into the Holy Spirit everyday with the willingness to serve.
