JJ Heller - Daylight Lyrics
Lyrics
Lord, I have been afraid for so long.
I have prayed so many times to be strong.
I sit here in the desert making circles in the sand,
but you tell me that you're the promised land.
There is an inch of daylight underneath the door;
It's enough for me to fill up my canteen.
Food and water are only buying time,
if I want to live, your love is what I need.
I am scared to death of taking the wrong turn.
Pieces of something nobody can earn.
There is no chance now of losing, when you've given me your love.
You heal the disease I was dying of
There is an inch of daylight underneath the door;
It's enough for me to fill up my canteen.
Food and water are only buying time,
if I want to live, your love is what I need.
Be near me.
Be near me now.
Be near me.
Be near me now.
There is an inch of daylight underneath the door;
It's enough for me to fill up my canteen.
Food and water are only buying time,
if I want to live, your love is what I need.
If I want to live, your love is what I need.
Video
JJ Heller - Daylight (Official Audio Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
JJ Heller’s "Daylight," released on January 15, 2016, offers a profound and comforting exploration of faith through struggle, capturing the delicate balance between human vulnerability and divine constancy. The song immediately immerses us in a candid expression of fear and a deep yearning for strength, articulating a common human experience of grappling with unseen burdens. The opening lines reveal a soul weary from prolonged anxiety and repeated prayers for resilience, painting a vivid picture of someone feeling trapped in a spiritual "desert," aimlessly making "circles in the sand." This imagery powerfully evokes the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, a period of trial and testing where their reliance on God was absolute. Yet, against this backdrop of dryness and stagnation, God is presented not merely as a guide *through* the desert, but as the "promised land" itself – the ultimate destination and source of all fulfillment, a truth echoed in scriptures like Hebrews 11:16, which speaks of a better, heavenly country.
The core metaphor of "Daylight" emerges with striking simplicity: "There is an inch of daylight underneath the door; It's enough for me to fill up my canteen." This isn't a blinding flood of revelation or an instant eradication of darkness, but a persistent, subtle glimmer of hope and God's presence, just enough to sustain the journey. It speaks to the concept of sufficient grace, reminding us of Paul’s experience in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God’s power is made perfect in weakness. The act of filling a "canteen" with this limited light symbolizes taking in just enough of God’s refreshing presence to endure the moment. The song then elevates this truth, declaring that "food and water are only buying time, if I want to live, your love is what I need." This statement moves beyond mere physical sustenance, pointing to the spiritual nourishment found only in God’s love, a love that brings true life, as Jesus proclaimed in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
The narrative continues to unfold with raw honesty, acknowledging the universal fear of making "the wrong turn" in life’s journey. This anxiety is juxtaposed with the glorious truth of grace: the "pieces of something nobody can earn." God's love and salvation are gifts, not achievements, a foundational principle of Christian faith articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works." This unearned gift brings an unparalleled security, transforming fear into certainty: "There is no chance now of losing, when you've given me your love." This assurance resonates with Romans 8:38-39, which declares that nothing can separate us from God's love. The most profound healing offered is not physical, but spiritual: "You heal the disease I was dying of." This line powerfully references the spiritual death caused by sin and separation from God, a condition from which only divine love and grace can bring restoration and new life, as depicted in 1 Peter 2:24, where by Christ’s wounds "you have been healed."
The repeated refrain of "Be near me. Be near me now" serves as a heartfelt prayer, a vulnerable plea for God’s immediate and tangible presence. Even when understanding the sufficiency of God's love, the human heart still craves intimacy and comfort, mirroring countless psalms where the writer cries out for God’s nearness (Psalm 145:18). "Daylight" is a profoundly inspiring piece that distills the essence of walking by faith, especially during seasons of spiritual barrenness or personal fear. It teaches us that even a sliver of hope, a gentle reminder of God's enduring love, is enough to sustain us. JJ Heller masterfully articulates the journey from fear to faith, from despair in the desert to finding ultimate fulfillment in God’s presence, making it a powerful anthem for anyone navigating the complexities of life with an enduring trust in divine love. Its message reminds us that true vitality and purpose are found not in our own strength or circumstances, but in the unwavering, freely given love of God.