Musical Prayer: Hard to Get
Music is one of my favorite forms of prayer. And if we’re going to be honest about it, most of the psalms were intended to accompany music anyways.
Why shouldn’t my prayers? And why shouldn’t yours?
One of the things I’m most thankful for, however, is professional musicians who take the words we so desperately cling to, feel, think – and turn them into beautiful, musical prayers.
The late Rich Mullins is, to this day, one of my favorite songwriters in the Christian genre. He had a horrendous voice but it still doesn’t take away from the vulnerability and human-ness of his lyrics.
This prayer/song resonates with me on this day. Perhaps it’ll resonate with you.
To listen to it as you pray, click here (or watch the video just above this text).
– Matt
Hard to Get (Rich Mullins)
You who live in heaven
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt
Do you remember when You lived down here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread
Did You forget about us after You had flown away
Well I memorized every word You said
Still I'm so scared I'm holding my breath
While You're up there just playing hard to get
You who live in radiance
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in skin
We have a love that's not as patient as Yours was
Still we do love now and then
Did You ever know loneliness
Did You ever know need
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don't see the blood that's running in Your sweat
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted
While You're up there just playing hard to get?
And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained
And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this somehow
All I really need to know
Is if You who live in eternity
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in time
We can't see what's ahead
And we can not get free of what we've left behind
I'm reeling from these voices that keep screaming in my ears
All the words of shame and doubt blame and regret
I can't see how You're leading me unless You've led me here
Where I'm lost enough to let myself be led
And so You've been here all along I guess
It's just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get
Matt Snyder is the Digital Media Manager and Consultant at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He is also a freelance copywriter and content creator at Copywriter Creative. You can learn more about his work and follow him on LinkedIn or on Twitter at @matthewlasnyder.