March 4

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Jeremiah 17:5-10 tells of God’s message to his people: that material goods and thoughts are nothing compared to the grace of God. “Cursed is the one... whose heart turns away from the Lord, but blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him,” the passage reads.

The reading continues to state the ways in which man prospers best under God’s guidance. If you put your trust in the Lord, your sins will be repented, and you can grow as a person. We live in a time when material possessions can take over our lives; sometimes it’s hard to distinguish what is really important as we are surrounded by superficial items, thoughts, and ideas. The nature of the world we live in makes it even more important that we recognize the glory of the Lord our God and give ourselves to him, renouncing material possessions and living through him.

As a singer and a music lover, I tend to think in song. Whether I am excited, upset, stressed, or confused, I can always find a song to relate to my situation. I frequently use songs to pump myself up, calm myself down, motivate me, or just make me smile. The possibilities are endless; you can choose any song. When I read Jeremiah 17:5-10, music began to play in the back of my head. The first song that came to mind was from one of my favorite Christian bands, Stellar Kart. The song “I Give Up” is about the decision or reaffirmation to give it all to God: “What it all comes down to:/When my world revolves around you /I begin to live.” As detailed in the song, living for and through God is the most satisfying thing a person can do; material possessions become irrelevant as you revel in the glory of God.

The idea that those who trust in God are safe from harm, that the Lord’s unfailing love is there to pick you up when you fall, is the topic of another Stellar Kart song, called “Never Let Go:” “Oh no, you never let go/ Through the calm and through the storm/ Oh no, you never let go/ Every high and every low/ Oh no, you never let go/ Lord you never let go of me.” Having faith in the wonders of God’s glory is one of the most important things to take out of this passage. No matter what happens, if you trust in God, He will come through for you and deliver you safe and sound.

I would encourage all of you to look up the songs I have discussed, because music is a powerful device. As E. Y. Harburg said: “Words make you think a thought, music makes you feel a feeling [but] song makes you feel a thought.” And in understanding God’s love and devotion, that’s exactly what we want to do.

Amy Stamm