I first heard this song over a year ago on a DC radio station. The band was being interviewed to promote a concert they were doing, so they sang "Washed By The Water" live on air. That was the day I started loving Needtobreathe. I was hooked on the beat, the vocals, and the lyrics. Only last week did I realize it had a deeper meaning. Here are the lyrics for reference:
Lyrics to Washed By The Water : Even when the rain falls Even when the flood starts rising Even when the storm comes I am washed by the water
Daddy was a preacher She was his wife Just tryin to make the world a little better You know, shine a light People started talking Trying to hear their own voice Those people tried to accuse my father Said he made the wrong choice Though it might be painful You know that time will always tell Those people have long since gone My father never failed
Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me I won’t never ever let you down I won’t fall I won’t fall I won’t fall as long as you’re around me [ Washed By The Water Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
For the past year, I thought that the chorus meant, "even if bad things are happening, I am still cleansed by Jesus and He is faithful." Only the other day did I think about the lyrics more deeply.
Even when the rain falls Even when the flood starts rising Even when the storm comes I am washed by the water
The rain, the flood, and the storm are the source of the water. The trials, the trouble, the bad things... they are the source of the cleansing. The phrase "blessings in disguise" comes to mind. It is amazing that when you are going through a major trial, that can be the thing that Jesus uses to cleanse you. I really believe that there are some lessons that we would never learn unless we had to go through the hard times. Even though humanity is typically the cause of the hard times, God always knows how to put them to good use.
The storms won't last forever. As a reminder, God sends us a rainbow every once in a while so we can think about His promises- hope found in Him. And when He dries up the water, we are clean and ready to move on. And hopefully at that time, we have learned the lesson we needed from the rain.
"And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth." (Genesis 9: 12-17 NIV)
Popcorn balls in Fall... Crunchy leaves on a hayride... Scarves, jackets, and hats.
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The more steps I take Doors open in front of me The longer I walk I realize You're carrying me The further I go I see this is Your will for me
And all along You knew I would be here now And the things I'm going through Are not in vain, because now I know that it's Your will And Your will is worth the miles
I've traveled and I'll travel Through this world and so much pain But I know that You restore You heal and I regain Strength found in You And joy through and through.
I'm giving you my heart, and all that is within I lay it all down for the sake of you my King I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights I'm giving up my pride for the promise of new life
And I surrender all to you, all to you And I surrender all to you, all to you
To you I give my life, not just the parts I want to To you I sacrifice these dreams that I hold on to
Your thoughts are higher than mine Your words are deeper than mine Your love is stronger than mine This is no sacrifice Here's my life
To you I give the gifts Your love has given me How can I hoard the treasures that you've designed for free?
Because Your thoughts are higher than mine Your words are deeper than mine Your love is staronger than mine This is no sacrifice Here's my life
To you I give my future As long as it may last To you I give my present To you I give my past
Because Your thoughts are higher than mine Your words are deeper than mine Your love is stronger than mine Your thoughts are higher than mine Your words are deeper than mine Your love is stronger than mine This is no sacrifice Here's my life