Substitution

 

“When darkness tries to roll over my bones

When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own

 When brokenness and pain is all I know I won’t be shaken,

 I won’t be shaken

 Chorus

My fear doesn’t stand a chance

 When I stand in Your love…”

From “Stand in Your Love” written by Josh Baldwin / Ethan Hulse / Rita Springer / Mark Harris . Bethel Music.

This lovely song has been part of the worship choruses that we sing at my church, Bridgeman Downs Baptist, for a few months now. It’s very meaningful to me. As I sang on Sunday morning I thought of recent circumstances which have caused me to remember certain incidents which are a long time in the past. In this case the emotions generated were not fear as such, rather hurt and pain. God reminded me that I could sing these words, quietly, so as not to distract those around me from worship. “ My hurt doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love.” “My pain doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love.” For someone else it could have been a different word – maybe “rejection” “shame” “pride” “anxiety”.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to the writers and ownership of the song. I do not try to rewrite choruses. I am merely pointing out that in some circumstances you can personally adapt what you are singing to honour God whom you are worshipping. The truth of these lyrics is so powerful. Not only does fear not stand a chance against God’s love, He is sovereign over every lie and false emotion that Satan can use to negatively impact our lives and draw us away from God.

A song can be a declaration of our faith. So can a prayer. So can a spoken or written word. All these things remind us of how great our God really is. He alone overcomes every evil and He does so through what was accomplished on the cross by the love of His Son, Jesus Christ.