Having been back for a couple of weeks now, I’ve decided to take a cue from the venerable Joe Malchow over at Dartblog and introduce a song of the week series here at Pax Plena.

Rather than being consistently from one artist or genre, the Pax Plena song of the week will come from the one song which has most set the tenor for my week.  This week’s selection comes from seven time Dove award winning artist Jaci Velasquez and is titled Lay It Down (Note: the series will not necessarily be religiously themed). 

We joke around a lot here and poke fun at liberals in both debate and jest.  But Velasquez’s lyrics remind even the most ardent partisan that sometimes life becomes more than we would prefer to bear.  In those instances, the best course, as the song warmly commends, is to entrust the situation to the Author of life’s plan and lay the burden down.  A dear friend once remarked, “when we can’t, God can.” That is the song’s message in brief.  It has been a tremendous strength to me the past several weeks.

Beneath the lyrics you will find a YouTube link to a performance by Velasquez on an American religious programming station.  Please, ignore the commentary at the beginning and enjoy her rendition of the song.

I’ve been lookin’ till my eyes are tired of lookin’
Listenin’ till my ears are numb from listenin’
Prayin’ till my knees are sore from kneelin’ on the bedroom floor
I know that you know that my heart is achin’
I’m running out of tears and my will is breakin’
I don’t think that I can carry the burden of it anymore
All of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans,
Are slowly slippin’ through my folded hands

Chorus
So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do?
Cause everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go,
I’m gonna lay it down.

I’ve been walkin’ through this world like I’m barely livin’
Buried in the doubt of this hole I’ve been diggin’
But You’re pullin’ me out
I’m finally breathin’ in the open air
This room may be dark but I’m finally seein’
There’s a new ray of hope, and now I’m believin’
That the past is past, and the future’s beginning to look brighter now
Oh, cause all of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans
Are safe and secure when I place them in Your hands

So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
Oh what else can I do,
Cause everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go,
I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna lay it down