I listen to a lot of music. Generally when I’m walking to and from school or when I’m cooking, it’s either a podcast or music. And lately it’s been a lot of random recommended albums from Spotify. Sometimes I skip right through them, sometimes it’s just background noise, and sometimes the lyrics hit me right between the eyes.
Such was the song “Kingdom” from Isabelle Thom. It squeezes my heart every time it comes on. I sent it to my friend, Missy, who said she got 10 seconds in before realizing “Nope, this one is going to require all of me,” and she had to postpone the moment to later. Honestly, I have no idea how some songs have the ability to do that with the tune and lyrics, but this one simply feels holy. Somehow the Spirit in Isabelle when she wrote it many months ago is resonating with the Spirit inside of me today.
In Chrysalis last week I spoke about the goodness of God, and how it’s a core character trait from which his kindness and compassion and slowness to anger all stem. Because he is the author of everything good, then every gift is actually his goodness toward us. Every time I experience something beautiful or joy-inducing, it’s a gift he’s giving to me personally. It’s a goodness not distorted in the mirror. It’s a lasting joy where suffering is redeemed into pure comfort. It’s a reminder that the things (and people) he loves will last in the kingdom. This song is a present for me.
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where there isn’t any fear
Where the goodness of the story’s not distorted in the mirror
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where my joy won’t come and go
Cuz my brokenness will make its peace with the fringes of your robe
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where nobody cares for gold
Cuz the radiance of your mercy crowns the heads of your beloved
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where the things you love will last
And the jaws of death won’t clench around the ones who went too fast
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where lies won’t sound like truth
Cuz hell will wake and find itself dethroned and destitute
I’m waiting for a kingdom
Where faith will become sight
When you redeem our suffering
Before our very eyes
