Story Behind the Song: Because He Lives
With Mother’s Day this weekend, it seems fitting to share the story behind the well-known song ‘Because He Lives’. You might be wondering; how does this song relate to Mother’s Day? It’s the lyrics in the second verse and the story behind the song that reveal the connection. The second verse is not usually sung during corporate worship because the lyrics are so specific to motherhood that the context of the lyrics can seem confusing without explanation.
The song was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither in the late 1960’s. Gloria wrote the lyrics when she was heavily pregnant with their third child. Like many beautiful and powerful songs, the lyrics were written through personal hardship and difficulty. At the end of her pregnancy, Gloria was caring for her husband, Bill, who was recovering from illness, there were significant social and economic hardships, and the idea of bringing a child into the world during this time was causing anxiety and anguish to Gloria.
During that time, God graced Gloria with an unexpected gentle, calming peace. Gloria recalls the experience as if God, like an attentive mother bending over her baby, saw his child and came to her rescue. Panic gave way to calmness and an assurance that only the Lord can impart. She was assured that the future would be sure, because she was in God’s hands.
Like the Gaither’s, we all live in uncertainty (it seems especially at the moment), we all have times of anxiety and anguish. Furthermore, and more importantly, we also all have hope and a certain future because we, too, are in God’s hands! Friends, hold fast to the assurance that we can all face uncertain days because Jesus lives!
“Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
God bless,
Emma
| Because He Lives (B & G Gaither, 1971) | |
| Verse 1 God sent His Son they called Him Jesus He came to love heal and forgive He bled and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove My Saviour lives |
Chorus Because He lives I can face tomorrow Because He lives all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living Just because He lives |
| Verse 2 How sweet to hold our newborn baby And feel the pride and joy he gives But greater still the calm assurance This child can face uncertain days Because Christ lives |
Verse 3 And then one day I’ll cross that river I’ll fight life’s final war with pain And then as death gives way to vict’ry I’ll see the lights of glory And I’ll know He reigns CCLI Song # 16880 |
Listen to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La9Zy917JcQ
