We’ve often written about the biblical command to “weep with those who weep,” to avoid worshiping with a “happy-faced mask,” but instead pour out all of our hearts to God — even going to Him with our bitter tears, our doubts, our anger and confusion (like this article I wrote for AllAboutWorship.com).
After our son Parker was stillborn, we cried out to God. Many of those cries came together in the form of this new song from our upcoming album Parker’s Mercy Brigade, “Chase Away My Unbelief.” This is a song for everyone who is broken by the thought of what might have been. A child who was never born. A child who was, but whose stay on earth was all too short. A broken home. A broken heart. A chilling medical diagnosis. A betrayal. Bankruptcy. Addiction. An inner conflict that causes you to say, “God, if you’re up there, if you’re powerful, and if you’re good, then why is everything so messed up?”
If you ever feel like God is far away, that he won’t answer you, let this song be your cry. If you ever feel like you’ve become a slave to your current circumstance, or that you have trouble seeing a larger perspective, let this song be your cry. If you ever hear about children starving and evil raging around the world, and your spirit groans, let this song be your cry.
Hear the worship lament “Chase Away My Unbelief in the player below (if you’re an email/RSS subscriber and you don’t see the audio player, click through to our website):
You can hear this song anytime, read the lyrics, and even preorder the CD or mp3 version, at KristenGilles.com. You can also hear “Chase Away My Unbelief” and read the lyrics anytime in the lyric video at Kristen’s new YouTube channel, and in the YouTube player at the bottom of this post.
We recorded “Chase Away My Unbelief” at Alumni Chapel in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jonatan Barahona played their gorgeous grand piano, with no other accompaniment for Kristen’s vocal and no studio overdubs or after-effects like Auto Tune.
Finally, remember that when you purchase “Parker’s Mercy Brigade,” half the proceeds go to Nadus Films, who document social justice issues around the world, then partner with local organizations to provide humanitarian relief and Christian witness.
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Beautiful Song. Well written. Gorgeous performance. Love the Psalm like approach of not trying to provide answers but a prayer with honest emotion and an encouragement to faith.
Thank you, Naomi!
Easily one of my favorites on the album! Thank you for your faithfulness to God through song writing.