Fears and Tears

When I was away this past weekend, to celebrate the fourth of July with my family, I finally heard the song that had been echoing in my mind. We were outside at dusk, getting ready to have a fire and the music was playing in the background. The song came on that was familiar and that I had been searching for the past week. I jumped up to see the name of the song, which was, “Draw Me Close” by Kutless and there is another version by Michael W. Smith.

The lyrics were word for word of what I had been hearing over and over again. They are absolutely beautiful and I was ecstatic for finally finding this song that wouldn’t leave me alone.

It was if the Lord was speaking these words directly to me as I listened to this song. It made me see Jesus as my friend who would lay everything down for me. The Lord desired to draw me close and it made me realize that I am loved so deeply by the One who knows me so well.

The weekend that we spent was in an area we had not visited before. It was in the southern part of the state where there are no lakes, in the state with 10,000 lakes, I found that fact interesting. The area was what I needed as over the last month my anxiety had returned and it left me in a place of exhaustion both mentally and physically.

It was a beautiful and tranquil setting, and my stress and anxiety seemed to slip away. I was able to relax in the slower pace of my surroundings and I regained my sense of peace. The environment around me beckoned me to slow down, which naturally calmed my body and soul.

The area has a calm, flowing river that runs through the valleys. The land is picturesque with rolling hills, winding dirt county roads, fields of corn and wide open blue sky. I could see for miles and the landscape looked like a painting.

We visited The Mystery Caves State Park and took the guided tour. The caves tell a tale of the land many years ago. It was literally stepping back into time to witness what the power of water leaves behind below the surface. When the river would flood over the years, the water would seep through the ground and carve out caves, caverns and pools of water that would eventually become miles and miles of areas to explore underground. The air in the caves was a constant 48 degrees and felt cool to my face. There were fossils etched into the rocks of squids from long ago when a vast ocean covered the surface. I could see the seafloor from long ago that was smooth, and the rocky walls, with the ridges that the water carved out. There were many rock formations that looked likes drips of water frozen in time, stone shelves, holes in the ceiling, dripping condensation of the present, and pools of crystal clear water.

The weekend has left me with a sense of peace that has helped me through the anxiety. I feel as if God is revealing His mystery in the nature that surrounds me. That His love is being poured out upon me, like living water, and He is close to me. That He is a constant presence in my life and He remains the same while I am changing slowly over time. The Lord draws me close and I am at peace.

“Draw me close to You. Never let me go. I’d lay it all down again. To hear You say that I’m Your friend. Help me find a way to bring me back to You. You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near. You are my desire. No one else will do. ‘Cause nothing else could take Your place To feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way to bring me back to You. You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near.”
Source: LyricFindSongwriters: Kelly Carpenter / Mark HayesDraw Me Close lyrics © Music Services, Inc