Tenth Avenue North

I recently had the privilege to attend a Tenth Avenue North Concert.  I've been a fan of their music for several years, after a good friend introduced me to it.  I've mentioned one of my favorite songs by them, Hold My Heart (read the post here) on this blog.  I love the music, the lyrics, the message, all of it!  But at the concert I got to hear some of their newest music, from the album Struggle.  I was especially drawn to the song "Worn".  Check it out:

Worn (Mike Donehey, Jeff Owen, Jason Ingram)
I'm tired, I'm worn My heart is heavy From the work it takes To keep on breathing I've made mistakes I've let my hope fail My soul feels crushed By the weight of this world And I know that You can give me rest So I cry out with all that I have left Let me see redemption win Let me know the struggle ends That You can mend a heart that's frail and torn	I wanna know a song can rise From the ashes of a broken life And all that's dead inside can be reborn ‘Cause I'm worn I know I need To lift my eyes up But I'm too weak Life just won't let up And I know that You can give me rest So I cry out with all that I have left	My prayers are wearing thin I'm worn Even before the day begins I'm worn I've lost my will to fight I'm worn So Heaven come and flood my eyes Yes, all that's dead inside will be reborn Though, I'm worn I'm worn
© 2012 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, West Main Music, Formerly Music, Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse, and Open Hands Music. All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, West Main Music, Formerly Music, Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse and Open Hands Music administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 8 Music Square West, Nashville TN 37203. Wow.  The lyrics speak to me, reminding me that even in my challenges, my human-ness, there is hope.  I love the imagery of new life, and the message is so honest.  "I'm worn."  How often do we try to present a different picture?  Show others only our good stuff because, gasp, we don't want them to figure out that we aren't perfect!  Who exactly are we fooling?  It's okay to be worn.  It's okay to be tired and empty.  These are all seasons of life.  But we need to remember that the sun (and the Son) will come again, and it will be a new day.  There is hope and redemption - not just if we feel like, but especially when we don't.   This next clip is a video journal of Mike Donehey sharing a bit of his story and how this song came to be.  He has been on an amazing journey, and this clip doesn't do it justice, but check it out.

Prayer - God, I'm struggling with myself.  I am tired and weary.  Grant me the grace to see that You are always present, offering hope and redemption.  I only need to say yes.