At the very beginning of last month I happened upon a cover Kari Jobe recorded on Spotify. It’s a piece called “In the Name of Love” originally sung by Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha.
I had heard the original time and time again on the radio, but the new version really captured me. I was (and still am) drawn to this song because almost every line directly relates to this year, and specifically to jumping into the first month full of faith. Even though it was originally written about the love between a man and woman, Kari Jobe saw the potential it had to illustrate our relationship with God.
“In the Name of Love” was definitely my month one go to. I probably listened to it every day. For me, the song is all about trusting God in the midst of difficult or uncertain circumstances. It’s about calling out to Him in love, and recognizing how intensely He loves us.
If I told you this was only gonna hurt
If I warned you that the fire’s gonna burn
Would you walk in? Would you let me do it first?
Do it all in the name of love
Would you let me lead you even when you’re blind?
In the darkness, in the middle of the night
In the silence, when there’s no one by your side
Would you call in the name of love?
In the name of love, name of love.
In the name of love, name of love.
If I told you we could bathe in all the lights
Would you rise up, come and meet me in the sky?
Would you trust me when you’re jumping from the heights?
Would you fall in the name of love?
When there’s madness, when there’s poison in your head
When the sadness leaves you broken in your bed
I will hold you in the depths of your despair
And it’s all in the name of love.
In the name of love, name of love.
In the name of love, name of love.
I wanna testify
Scream in the holy light
You bring me back to life
And it’s all in the name of love.
One of my favorite parts of this song is the first three lines. During the beginning of month one, I got little glimpses of how hard the race was going to be. Whether it was getting constructive feedback and feeling misunderstood, feeling overwhelmed living in constant community, or my heart breaking for homeless children on the streets of downtown San Salvador, I was getting a taste of growth.
It didn’t taste super great.
Most of us say we want to be stretched and learn greater dependency on God, but the process is usually pretty grueling.
“If I told you this was only gonna hurt, if I warned you that the fire’s gonna burn.” Month one wasn’t all fire. We actually experienced many many times of incredible joy. Yet, would I have “walked in” to month one of the race with full confidence if God had told me it was purely going to bring me to my knees? I can only hope so.
This part reminds me of Daniel 3 with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were cast into the burning fiery furnace because they were unwilling to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.
Can you even imagine?
They were bound and tossed into actual consuming fire for the sake of the Gospel and it was all in the name of their love for God. BUT the fire did not consume them. Similarly, whatever fire I faced last month did not consume me, and any flames I will encounter in the months to come will not gobble me up. Trials we face refine and purify our hearts to become more like Christ. James, the half-brother of Jesus, says it perfectly in his first chapter verse 2-4.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Miles Fidell shares in his ACC James series that through the lens of faith “trials go from unnecessary and unwanted difficulties to unexpected opportunities.”
Yeah, the refining process can be incredibly painful, but the outcome is way worth it.
I pray that I can hold fast to this perspective this year (and for my whole life), and display as much trust as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego headed for the furnace.
Over and out,
Julia
