During our July and August Sunday morning worship gatherings, I will be preaching through selected Psalms, using that section of the Bible in order to help us connect in deeper ways to God. During that time, I will be using the NewLife blog as a platform for the people of our church the opportunity to share about particular songs that help them connect to God.

This assignment was more difficult than I anticipated: not because I didn’t know what to write about, but it was difficult having to pick just one song that connects me to God. I am also one of those people that are emotionally connected to songs, so to pick only one was a task. As I listened to my favorite Top 10 songs, the one that stood out the most was “The Well” by Casting Crowns.

I went to the Casting Crowns concert recently with two amazing women. One that is like a sister to me and the other was someone I met that night but has since become a blessing to have in my life. I knew a few songs from Casting Crowns, and my love of music was the reason I wanted to drive all the way to Newark for this concert. Little did I know that this was going to be a night we would always remember. I shared a bond with these two women, cried my eyes out in worship in a sold out arena and decided to sponsor a precious little girl from Mexico named Sarah, who happens to share my birthday. It was a night I could not have planned so perfectly.

Casting Crowns sang this song “The Well” that I was not familiar with, but it was just what I needed to hear. I am not alone in saying we all search and search in worldly “things” to fill this huge empty void in our lives. As Christians, we know God is the answer: “He has what we need but we keep on searching”. We are disappointed time and time again because nothing will fill that void. I have certainly been in this situation more times than I care to admit. I did not grow up in a Christian home but went to Catholic/Christian schools from 5th to 12th grade. My parents sent me there either because the public school was not in a good area or they thought I would get a better education. It wasn’t for the Christian aspect. Maybe I did get a better academic education but, the best education was my friends teaching me about God and telling me about being saved and accepting Christ as my Savior. They took me to youth group in 11th grade and supported me as I became a Christian for the first time in my life.

Once we graduated high school, I lost that guidance from them so I just thought that I knew all I needed to know. Boy, was I wrong. I couldn’t do it on my own. I continued to search for something to fill that void and always came up empty. But when I got really desperate, I would go to church. Not every week, you know, just when I “needed” God. Something always led me back to church. It was where I felt safe and made me happy. So I would get my Spirit filled again and venture out to the world on my own. That void kept coming back. This had become a cycle for some time. I would feel like I wasn’t allowed to go back to church since I was in and out so many times so I would give up all together (rewind a bit, at 13 my dad walked out on my life and was pretty much absent for most of my life. How could a father not love his child? If my own father didn’t love me, for sure God wouldn’t love me). I was married to a non-Christian man for 5 years, whom I was divorced from about 3 years ago. So first my dad doesn’t love me and now my husband? But, his parents were seasoned Christians and they brought me back to God and lit my Spirit. Oh…. So THAT’S what I was missing? Now I get it … “Rest in my arms for awhile, you’ll feel the change, My child”. I didn’t need my father’s love, I have my Heavenly Father’s love and He will never leave me. My desire to be closer to God and to worship Him is the only way for me. He is my Rock and I would be lost without Him. He is all I have. “Bring your heart no matter how broken” is just what I did. I am not like the rest of my family and it’s been a struggle for me. They just don’t get it. It hurts my heart because they are my family but also because they are really missing out on something more amazing that they could ever imagine.

Since coming to NewLife, I have found a church family that loves me for me. Pastor Eric preached a few weeks ago about not caring to be accepted by others, it’s God’s acceptance that only matters. That really hit home for me because it reminded me that I was once one of “those who search will find what their soul longs for”. I found it and He lives in me now and forever. I highly recommend that you “leave it all behind and come to the well”. It was the best thing I have ever done in my life. Oh, and when you get to The Well, I’m pretty sure my two friends will still be there talking about the Casting Crown’s concert.

Leave it all behind, Leave it all behind, Leave it all behind, Leave it all behind,

I have what you need, But you keep on searchin’,

I’ve done all the work, But you keep on workin’,

When you’re runnin’ on empty, And you can’t find the remedy,

Just come to the well.

You can spend your whole life, Chasin’ what’s missing,

But that empty inside, It just ain’t gonna listen.

When nothing can satisfy, And the world leaves you high and dry,

Just come to the well

And all who thirst will thirst no more,

And all who search will find what their souls long for,

The world will try, but it can never fill,

So leave it all behind, and come to the well

So bring me your heart, No matter how broken,

Just come as you are, When your last prayer is spoken,

Just rest in my arms a while, You’ll feel the change my child,

When you come to the well

And now that you’re full, Of love beyond measure,

Your joy’s gonna flow, Like a stream in the desert,

Soon all the world will see that living water is found in me,

‘Cause you came to the well

And all who thirst will thirst no more,

And all who search will find what their souls long for,

The world will try, but it can never fill,

So leave it all behind, and come to the well