Album Review || The Undoing {Steffany Gretzinger}
"The Undoing invites listeners to embrace not so much the destinations we reach with God, but the many processes we walk out in this life with Him: the crucial moments along the way."
Recently, my sister told me that she'd watched an interview where the artist talked about this being written in a specific order. Basically (long story short), I lost it as I drove her home in the car- because it made that much sense to me; and it made me realize how much more this album was... sent to me. And all I can say is, since Jesus has often spoken to me through music, this is beauty. This is Abba-to-child. I couldn't be more thankful. This is the process of growth, love, pain, and healing. As one of her songs says, "there is reason in the journey; there is purpose in the learning." My prayer is that this will bless you as much as it blessed me in this season.
1- Morning Song.
First off, this is the beginning- in the morning. Make sense? This one is beautiful. "Mercy sings me the promise of Your love, and I'm reminded how far we've come. You're the One that my heart is beating for."
2- Constant One
The first time I listened to this was on an early morning bike ride. I pray on my bike rides, and when Jesus speaks to me, I call them "bike thoughts." This particular morning was a tough one; and this precious piece of worship came on my shuffle...
"It's amazing how you take me just for who I am, in the valleys and in the mountains."
Constant One- a simple song of how He is faithful. How He relentlessly chases after our hearts.
3- Out of Hiding
I sing this all the time- without realizing it. I read the words aloud as often as I can, and become overwhelmed just as easily. This is an Abba-to-child song. I listen to this and get chills. You are free in me. I tore the veil for you to come close; there's no reason to stand at a distance anymore. You're not far from Home.
"Oh as you run what hindered love, will only become part of the story."
'Everything happens for a reason,' I have to remind myself every day. 'Just trust, Sierra. Just trust. He knows. I am His treasure; He is the Author. He knows the end of the story.' He did so much for me, for you, on that cross; all He wants is our hearts.
4- I Spoke Up
I relate to this so much. Short and to the point. How often I can hold all I am feeling and all I hold dear to my heart silent in order to, in essence, please. No more of this.
"So I spoke up and I spoke out. I learned that love don't hold its tongue, and passion doesn't bow to what they think. It's You and me. Sometimes it's painful to be brave, to look fear in the face and know your name, to find your strength."
Lord-willing, I'll be going on the mission field next year. I like to capitalize the "Love" in this- because Love doesn't hold its tongue. True Love is brave. If His Love is pulsating through my soul... I cannot be silent about it. I've remained silent far more times than I can count on one hand, and I refuse to have regrets about speaking His Name.
5- Cecie's Lullaby
"Don't you think I know best? I've been your Father for a long time."
Oh my. I type these words and even now realize how much I forget and fall short. He truly knows best. I've been so tired. I'm so tired.
"No one knows you better than Me."
6- I'm Letting Go
This could be the song of the year. I wake up to it. I fall asleep on it. I worship to it, cry to it, and long for His presence over and over again- so much it hurts sometimes.
I chatted with my C.B.S. kidlets this morning about being content and thankful this morning, and it dawned on me how often we need to give thanks- in all circumstances. How often I forget.
"You've brought me to the end of myself, and this has been the longest road. Just when my hallelujah was tired, You gave me a new song. I'm letting go, and falling into You. You remind me of things forgotten; You unwind me until I'm totally undone; and with Your arms around me, fear was no match for Your love. Now You've won me. And if I lived a thousand lifetimes, and wrote a song for every day- still there would be no way to say how You have loved me."
No matter how often I think I know where I am going, I need to remember to live with open hands. I had begun to close my hands, and He had to pry them open again; and it hurt. But it was only to draw me back to Himself. "He's not finished yet, Sierra. Let Him work. Let Him stir. Let Him move."
7- Promise I Always Will
I don't like listening to this one. It's sad, and could be somewhat regarded as a secular song (think the "love" portion of the themes of growth, love, pain and healing). But it's beautiful, and I end up listening to it anyway since "it's part of the story." I'll leave it at that.
"Before we burn down all our bridges, let’s look a while on what we've built."
8- Steady Heart (feat. Amanda Cook)
This is one of my constant prayers: lead me on.
"Steady heart that keeps on hoping, lead me on. And as the dawn breaks and the clouds clear, in an open space, together we will run."
We will run after You, Lord. Though the sky is dark, You have promised to lead us, You have promised to guide us with a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. He does not bring us this far to leave us now.
9- No Fear in Love
Perfect Love casts out fear. I've come to a point where I am uncertain, and am learning that, since my God is Love, Love holds the pen to my future. I have no fear of what's to come; He will carry me. There's peace and grace in such a thought.
"Stir in me a love that's deep, a love that's wide, a love that's sweet; and help me, Lord, to never keep it to myself. And if my heart should dimly burn, and if my feet should fail to run, call my name and I will come right back to You. I wanna stay close to You. It's really that simple. I wanna stay close to You my whole life long."
Help me, Lord, to never keep that precious Love to myself; help it to constantly pour without bounds from my soul.
10- Open Up Let the Light In
After the previous cry of worship... the music continues right into this, and builds. The simplest six words are sung, and my goodness; it's a most wonderful joy pouring through your soul.
11- Getting There
A song of triumph in the Holy Spirit.
"And we will see You in the land of the living; we will find You in the mystery. Your presence is the joy set before us for now and all eternity. Your presence is the promise: there is nothing that could stop us. We're on our way."
Here is the end of this one journey; where the joy spills over. Healing. We're not "there" yet.
"There's a reason for the journey; there is purpose in the learning. Not everything in life comes naturally. We've tasted of Your goodness; we know that You are for us." I truly believe this is the essence of the woven story of this album. Each of us go through this "story" multiple times, and over and over again He cultures us for His glory and our good. The sooner I learn that these "trials" are more than they seem, the sooner I can find Him.
He's glorious; He's beautiful, and I see Him clearly manifested in this album. He sees our innermost parts, unwraps us, and makes us like Him. Truly, we are in the arms of a God who loves us so much that He lets us go through these things to make us like Him... and that is something to cling to every day of my life.
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Besides You... I desire nothing on earth. (Psalm 73)
What submission... what joy is there in this statement?
How many times have I lost my way, slipped upon the path, fallen and scraped my knees... and yet Jesus was there to hold my hand, to catch me. To carry me.
I don't need to know what's next, because... like that post I wrote years ago... "I've been there."
He is constant, He is unafraid.
He knows!
I do not!
When I submit, when I let go.. ah! there is the beauty! Here, He is the strength of my heart.
All those who wander...
all those who struggle to find heart...
I know.
I have been "places."
And I will likely trod those paths again.
So come to His arms.
