This song was written during what I think may have been the most intensely lonely time of my life. In Exodus 13-16, the Israelites had been freed from slavery and bondage and yet they were being led on a long journey through the desert to their promised land. I felt like I was on that same journey, and had been crying out to God about why it is taking so long, why I had to go through this season of loneliness. It had been very intense and exhausting, and I became very angry with God over it.
I had written the first two verses and went to church the next morning...angry and lost. I shared it with my friend Becky Misar and we prayed together, and as the tears fell I began to feel God pulling the veil away and exposing me to the light of His peace again. I was able to write the last half of the song, and as I did He reminded me that He will never leave me or forsake me. He knows that we will feel alone, forsaken, and even abandoned by Him sometimes. But He gives us this assurance that when loneliness comes, when we are in the sandstorm and the winds are blowing and our vision is blinded ~ we would remember that He is there. He will never leave or forsake me if I abide in Him. He reminded me to take one day at a time, not live for the future or regret the past. Live each day staying focused on Jesus and connected to the Vine.
River of Hope
There is a mighty river
Flowing out of Your hand
To the dry and weary soul
Hope, like a river flows.
Oh, I've drank from this river
I thought would never end.
Now hope eludes me,
Loneliness ensues me
And calls me his friend.
Oh friend, I remember you.
River of hope, you've gone and left me dry
And I've not the will to try
To find my way again.
Lord of all, have You let go of my hand?
For I do not understand
Why I walk this path of life alone.
Have I not called You Savior?
Have You not called me Your friend?
What have You healed me for,
This open door that leads to emptiness?
Oh, I closed that door
So many years ago,
Still hope eludes me
Emptiness ensues me
And calls me his friend.
Oh friend, I remember you.
River of hope, you've gone and left me dry
And I've not the will to try
To find my way again.
Lord of all, have You let go of my hand?
For I do not understand
Why I walk this path of life alone.
Oh, I've lost my way
Come and find me, Lord
I am desperate for You
I'm desperate for You, Jesus
There on the bank of this river
Comes my Savior again!
With His love, He moves me
In His arms, He soothes me
And calls me His friend
Oh, Friend...I remember You.
River of hope, flow into my soul
With my Savior, I know
I'll find my way again.
Lord of all, You're still holding my hand
One day I'll understand
Why I walked this path of life alone.
Jesus, I know I don't walk this path alone.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:1-5
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