Brave.

Before you click out of your screen and wonder if perhaps you clicked the wrong site, stop. This is indeed Clinging to Hope, but, as you probably guessed, it has been completely revamped. New colour scheme, new theme, new layout… I wanted to start with a clean slate, a different flavour going into this new year.

Clinging to Hope is now titled “Be Brave” or just simply “Brave.” (Don’t worry, I’m still clinging to hope, and will always continue to be.) The new theme is taken from the song of the same title by Nicole Nordeman, a song I have been really convicted by lately, as is obvious by the fact that I am dedicating my blog to it. (The song and lyrics are posted on the end of this post.)

I know I grasp my life too closely. With white knuckles, I cling to my pride, my bitterness, my brokenness and I don’t want to let them go. I’m standing on the edge, but I never have the strength enough to leap. And the more I think of it and meditate on it, I realize that it’s because HE is the one to give me enough strength. He’s been waiting all this time, seeing me standing apprehensively staring out into the dark unknown, reaching out with one hand, yet still clinging to my life with the other. And I want to just jump. I want to be brave. I want to let go.

I know it’s so cliche to say that I want to be pushed to the limits of my faith, but really, that’s where I want to be next December. When I look back next year on how God moved in my life, on how He changed me, I want to know that I jumped off the edge, that I stopped clinging to comfort and stopped going with the status quo.

So, that in a nutshell is Brave. (A more detailed post will be coming shortly… in the not-too-distant future known as January). Until then, may God bless you abundantly as you enjoy these last few days of winter break and as you look ahead to the new year.

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You’re safe and sound and
Until now it’s where I’ve been

‘Cause it’s been fear that ties me down to everything
But it’s been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long, status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave.

I am small
And I speak when I’m spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I’m ready to jump
Even ready to fall…

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave

I’ve never known a fire that didn’t begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I’m gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave.