Music Monday: “You Make Everything Beautiful” by Rebecca St. James (Song version from the Motion Picture, “Unsung Heroes”)
By: Debbie Waltz
In the last two weeks, I’ve seen the movie, “Unsung Heroes” twice – once with my dad and once with my niece Elizabeth. Why see the film twice? As I’ve said many times, I feel it’s important to promote and support Christian productions these days to show the industry what we are interested in; we need more movies that inspire and encourage us. Also, I wasn’t aware of the struggle that Rebecca St. James had “breaking in” to the music industry and I can relate. Yes, the movie isn’t all about Rebecca but her family’s (the Smallbones’s) ability to adjust to life in America.
I won’t spoil it for those who want to see the film while it’s still in theaters. But it was amazing to see how many times God moved in their lives to ensure they stayed in America. The Smallbones had only planned on being here for 2 years (their mother’s compromise if things didn’t work out.) Things were rough at the beginning, for sure; the father being let go of the music opportunity he’d come to America for in the first place. In the interim, the family pulled together and created a housecleaning and lawn care business to supplement their income.
These financial difficulties forced everyone to reevaluate their faith and make it their own. Despite being a Christian, David struggled with feelings of inadequacy in providing for his wife and children; as a result, he felt immense guilt and shame when they asked for assistance or help. Despite everything, God always came through-providing through the generous donations of a church family or extra lawn-mowing gigs. Remember what Ecclesiastes 4:9- 10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (NIV)
Does Jesus expect the same from us? To put it simply, I believe the answer is yes. Jesus wants us to rely on Him for everything. This includes both the good times and bad times in our lives. James reminds us how these trials are essential to our development, building our character and endurance for the days ahead and teaching us how to trust and rely on God for all our daily needs. He writes in verses 2 through 4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Romans reinforces this idea as Paul writes in Romans 5:2-4: “Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope.”
Verses like the ones above reiterate what we, as Christians, already know. This life isn’t easy and there will be times we have trouble. But there is ultimately hope-HOPE in God and the Trinity . But in the end, we know it will all be worth it. Revelation 7:17 says “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”
Rebecca St. James’ song, “You Make Everything Beautiful” reminds us that God is working in the background of our lives- even when we don’t see it. As long as we follow faithfully in his footsteps, Jesus will work everything out in His Timing and according to His Plan.
(Personal note: as I wrote this blog, several other verses continued coming to mind. Some of these include: Ecclesiastes 3 and Isaiah 61; I would encourage reading those if you are interested in further examination of this topic
You can listen to Rebecca’s song here: