Josh Garrels - My Child Lyrics
Lyrics
Hear a voice echo soft
From a place where one was lost
I believe, but my hands let go.
The darkest night, with tears I dream
Of a childless mothers scream
I believe, oh my Lord I do.
Where is my child?
Will a man find a home
If he walks the world alone
Searching for a promise land.
Another day, walk and wait
For this choice to end in fate
Searching for life among the dead.
Once I held you near, and words were clear
My hands rested upon your heart.
Now by night and flame I call your name
My love, when will an answer be found?
Where is my child?
Video
My Child
Meaning & Inspiration
Josh Garrels' "My Child," released on October 31, 2024, plunges into the raw, agonizing depths of loss and the relentless pursuit of hope. The song paints a visceral picture of a parent grappling with the absence of a child, a wound so profound it echoes from a place where wholeness was once known. The opening lines, "Hear a voice echo soft / From a place where one was lost," immediately establish a narrative of profound bereavement, a feeling many can connect with on an intensely personal level. The speaker grapples with a wavering faith, admitting, "I believe, but my hands let go." This isn't a faith that effortlessly conquers all, but one that battles against despair, a testament to the struggle for belief in the face of unbearable pain. The imagery of "the darkest night, with tears I dream / Of a childless mothers scream" underscores the all-consuming nature of this grief, transforming even rest into a reflection of suffering. Yet, amidst this profound sorrow, a persistent "I believe, oh my Lord I do" emerges, a desperate cry for enduring connection and divine intervention.
The central refrain, "Where is my child?" is not merely a question; it’s a desperate plea that encapsulates the entire emotional landscape of the song. This yearning for what is lost mirrors the ancient longing found throughout Scripture for redemption and reunion. The subsequent verses explore the existential dread that accompanies such a loss, questioning the very meaning of existence when a fundamental part of one's life is missing: "Will a man find a home / If he walks the world alone." This resonates with the biblical narrative of human beings seeking belonging and purpose, a journey often fraught with isolation. The search for a "promise land" and "life among the dead" speaks to the desperate hope for solace and resurrection, a profound desire for restoration in the face of apparent finality. This yearning for what has been lost is reminiscent of King David’s lamentations in the Psalms, particularly his expressions of grief and his persistent appeals to God for deliverance. Consider Psalm 13:1, which cries out, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" The song’s exploration of walking and waiting for a "choice to end in fate" can be interpreted as a struggle with divine timing and the seemingly insurmountable circumstances that have led to this separation.
The intimate recollection of holding the child near, "Once I held you near, and words were clear / My hands rested upon your heart," amplifies the pain of their absence. This memory serves as a stark contrast to the current state of longing, where by "night and flame I call your name." This fervent invocation, seeking an answer, echoes the persistent prayers of biblical figures who cried out to God for guidance and for the return of what was precious. The song’s exploration of a parent’s desperate love and their unwavering search for their child, even in the face of overwhelming darkness, speaks to a profound, God-given instinct for connection and preservation. This enduring love and the persistent hope for reunion, even when the path is unclear and the wait is agonizing, reflect the unfailing love of God for His creation, a love that transcends human understanding and endures through all circumstances, mirroring the hope found in Romans 8:38-39, which assures us 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." "My Child" is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable sorrow, an honest and inspiring portrayal of unwavering faith amidst the deepest of trials, and a poignant reminder of the persistent hope for wholeness and reunion that is so deeply ingrained in the human experience, and ultimately, in God's redemptive plan.