Day 11: Out of Exile – Strahan

Today was my birthday. Yee haw. Birthdays are fun because you can celebrate what you’ve accomplished in the last year, and look forward to a new one. Birthdays change as you get older. Instead of cutesy parties and lots of gifts, it’s a bit more sentimental, maybe even more personal, and certainly more reflective.

My twenties so far have been turbulent but extremely good. I honestly don’t have it bad in that regard. I’ve got a great job, great people around me, and a solid confidence in myself. However, it hasn’t been without its challenges.

Especially with regards to my faith. No one told me that after going to a Christian college for three and a half years, you’d feel a bit stranded faith-wise after graduation. Not that it was intentional for me to feel that way, but it was a bi-product of being constantly saturated with faith and wisdom and truth in my environment. The “real world” doesn’t necessarily operate that way.

Which is why we have Strahan.

Day 11: Out of Exile – Strahan 

Strahan (who hails from Auckland, New Zealand) is what one could easily call a modern-day psalmist. His songs tend to cut a bit deeper than your typical church praise-and-worship. (There’s nothing wrong with that kind of praise, but some people prefer a bit more to chew on in their quiet moments.) He has very peppy, worship-esque songs that are delightful and almost feel like being at a barn raising, but I especially love his more nuanced, quiet hymns. His first album, “Strahan,” is chock full. “Daily Bread” is a quiet prayer that longs to fully taste the goodness of the Lord. “Time For A Change Again” is introspective, realizing the darkness of one’s own soul.

His sophomore album, “Out of Exile,” has much of the same. My favorite off of the album is the title track, and you’ll find out why soon.

Did you know
That love seeks,
It seeks your heart?
Reaches out
As the world breaks
Breaks apart

Part of this song is a gentle pleading. There is a Love that doesn’t give up on you – did you know that? A lot of Christian songs, many of which are well-intentioned, only focus on the “good.” “Life is great, rah rah Jesus, yay.” But the truth is, even if you’re a Christian and love the Lord, life still sucks sometimes. Sometimes your world still falls apart.

Some don’t want love
Some don’t want peace
Some don’t want rest for you
Some just want tears
Some just breathe hate
Some just put pressure on the wound to see pain

And that’s the truth too. You’ll face opposition in this world, no matter who you are. Some just don’t want the best for you, and that sucks.

And the lies that they tell
In the dryness of heart
Won’t quench the weary soul

A lot of other things pull for our attention, too. We try to get filled up by a lot of things – success, money, relationships. You name it. They usually don’t last long. I love the water analogy – they’re not enough to “quench” you.

Did you know
That Heaven cries
It cries for you?
And when you ran
It kept watch, she watched for you

The personification of Heaven is interesting in this verse. Most Christians believe that God is an emotive being, and He feels pain when His sheep go astray. I firmly believe that as well. I believe that it is emotionally painful to watch His children walk away from Him. But does he continue to watch? Of course He does.

I need you to know, there is love in Me

The narration changes from third to first person in the refrain before the bridge. There are arms we can run to when we are troubled. There is water we can drink from that will quench our thirst. There is Love in Him.

The bridge is the climax of the song, where we hear Strahan once again pleading with us (more strongly) to come out of exile.

Calling to you, back from the woods
Come out of exile

To be “in exile” means to be banned from your place of origin. In Biblical terms, the Israelites were cast out of their Promised Land for disobeying – exiled, so to speak. They wandered around the desert for a long time. They did wrong by their God, but their God still loved them and called them out of exile.

The truth is, God wants what’s best for us, even when life sucks. That’s been the greatest truth as I’ve strengthened with my faith after some difficult times post-college. If you let Him, He will go ahead of you and forge a path for you. All you have to do is follow and trust. Easier said than done, but doable. You’ll find yourself on a much better path if you do.

A path out of exile.