Behind The Songs: Surfacing

Over the course of the next several months, I hope to begin giving some background behind the lyrics of each of the songs on the new album. Today, I’ll be focusing on the first track, Surfacing.

In summary, Surfacing is a song about negative thinking and the power of the mind. The inspiration for this song came from a conversation I had with a friend over coffee back in the fall of 2009. We were sharing some of our own personal ups and downs, and were discussing how easy it can be to believe lies.

We all have our weaknesses. Some of us bounce back from let downs quickly, while some of us are more prone to over analyze and fall into snow balling self inflicting thought patterns. Personally, I have wrestled with depression for years. I’m one of those creative people who see the world around me in sharp shapes and intense colors. This is both a blessing and a curse. I can pick out nuances, but I can also dwell on details. I can imagine beauty from raw materials, but I can also imagine the worst in a situation or in a passing comment. Surfacing was written as an anthem for others like me who know the struggle of fighting off the inner voices.

The Bible has a lot to say about our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we (should) take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Often, we don’t take our enemy seriously. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of us live most of our lives as if we don’t have an enemy. I Peter 5:8 reminds us that “(our) enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” and 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” The Devil is as real as the air we breathe, but he’d like us to live as if he was non-existent.

Our minds are incredibly powerful. A brief thought can ripple into repeating thoughts. A repeating thought can take root as a thought pattern. A thought pattern can determine our actions, and can ultimately give way to a lifestyle. How can we find freedom from these destructive thoughts? The world will tell us to “believe in ourselves” or to “clear our minds” while God’s Word tells us to fill our minds with the truth. John 8:32 promises that “the truth will set (us) free.” There is a line in Surfacing that says, “I’m drowning in seas that don’t exist.” We can create an entire world of lies, and that world can suffocate and paralyze us. This imaginary world can be shattered if we are willing to believe the truth. Another line in Surfacing exclaims, “There’s no safe place inside I can turn, please give me guidance to discern the truth from all this fiction in my head.” Stepping outside of our illusions requires a paradigm shift. We need to first accept the fact that not everything we hear inside is reality.

Are you battling depression or thoughts of anxiety? A good place to start is to ask God for help. The answers don’t lie within us. God is the author of truth, and He can lead us to a place of hope, safety and freedom if we’re willing to follow.

Here are some great verses of promise that have helped me when I have found myself sinking in make believe.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:26-28

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:25-26, 33-34

Artwork by Phil Gegner

Listen to a clip of Surfacing on iTunes here.