When I first heard the song “Nothing I Hold Onto”, it wrecked me. This song, both in its form and function, is a meditation on our need to trust in God’s provision, God’s ways, and God’s plan rather than ourselves and the ways of the world. Why is this type of trust so simple and yet so difficult?

Humans have been grasping for something on earth to hold on to for all of history. Something to stabilize ourselves. Something to pull ourselves up. Something with which we can cover our shame and compensate for our fear.

Material wealth? Comforts? Control? Power? Prestige? Esteem from our friends and families? Knowledge? Good health? Enjoyment? Escape? These are all things we grasp for. Every one of these and endless more will only ever let us down.

Early humans were guilty of this as shown in the Genesis narrative. The Israelites were guilty of this throughout their entire history as recorded in the Old Testament. I am guilty of this.

Scripture provides another way of being, shown clearly in Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Seems simple, right?

But why is it so difficult?

All your ways. Let that sink in. Not just your ways on Sunday for an hour, but ALL of your ways. We must continuously submit to the working of the Holy Spirit in submitting all areas of our lives to Jesus.

Submitting is hard work. It involves acknowledging that we do not have what it takes to survive in this world – let alone thrive. It involves putting yourself under the authority of another. It involves giving up control. It involves a great deal of humility. 1 Peter 5:6-7 makes this point clear:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

So why this song?

We need to be reminded of these truths in order to stay on the path of submission to God. We need to declare our trust in Him regularly and faithfully.

I pray that this song is as much of a challenge and blessing to you as it has been to me.

Looking for some music to enrich your personal worship throughout the week? Check our Calvary Worship Favorites playlist on Spotify. It’s an assortment of songs that we sing on the regular during our Sunday worship services.

If you want to get a taste of what we’ll be singing on any upcoming Sunday, check out our This Sunday At Calvary playlist. This list is updated weekly with the songs we’re planning to lead at the upcoming Sunday service.

Nothing I Hold Onto

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven

I give it all to You God

Trusting that You'll make

Something beautiful out of me

I will climb this mountain

With my hands wide open

There's nothing I hold onto

CCLI Song # 5911251
Will Reagan
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United Pursuit Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
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CCLI License # 702888