The Cashmans - The Hardest Part Lyrics
Lyrics
The hardest part is the listening
I hear Your words but they fail to ring
I know the songs we used to sing
The hardest part is the listening
There was a time when we walked the day
One to one now we're worlds away
Step by step now I hear You saying
The hardest part is the waiting
I circle around
Trying to find the meaning in the sounds
The hardest part
Is knowing that You loved me from the start
Learning how it used to feel
In days I knew Your love was real
It once was dead now this heart is beating
The hardest part is the healing
Like a fire within the spark
A flame has brightened in the dark
And in Your light my life's revealing
The hardest part is believing
I circle around
Trying to find the meaning in the sounds
The hardest part
Is knowing that You loved me from the start
Oh, I circle around
Trying to find the meaning in the sounds
The hardest part
Is knowing that You loved me from the start
Words I never used to hear
Now they're coming in so clear
Still those old whispers sound convincing
The hardest part is the listening
Video
The Hardest Part
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on August 28, 2020, as part of their album *Burn*, The Cashmans' "The Hardest Part" immediately immerses the soul into a profound journey of faith, articulating the raw, often challenging, landscape of a spiritual walk. This song masterfully navigates the ebb and flow of intimacy with the Divine, revealing a candid struggle to connect with God's voice amidst life's complexities. It speaks to a universal experience for many believers who find themselves in seasons where the once vibrant communication feels distant, the echoes of past fellowship a poignant reminder of what seems lost. The narrative unfolds through a series of "hardest parts," each illuminating a unique facet of the faith experience that demands endurance and unwavering trust.
The song begins with the poignant admission that "the hardest part is the listening," a struggle to discern God's word when it "fail[s] to ring," despite a deep familiarity with the spiritual "songs we used to sing." This resonates deeply with moments in faith where the Divine presence, once palpable, becomes elusive, and the spiritual ear grows dull. It mirrors the ancient laments found in Scripture, where prophets like Isaiah spoke of people with "ears that do not hear" (Isaiah 6:10), or Jeremiah decried those who "have ears but do not hear" (Jeremiah 5:21). The ache of this spiritual deafness is compounded by the memory of a time "when we walked the day / One to one," a profound communion now seemingly replaced by "worlds away." This sense of separation introduces another formidable challenge: "the waiting." The passage of time often tests our resolve, prompting us to echo the psalmist's cry, "How long, O Lord?" (Psalm 13:1). Yet, Scripture consistently calls us to patience, as James 5:7-8 reminds us, "Be patient, therefore, until the coming of the Lord," affirming that strength is found in waiting for God's perfect timing.
As the seeker grapples with this distance, a central truth emerges amidst the circling attempts to "find the meaning in the sounds": "The hardest part / Is knowing that You loved me from the start." This recognition is both a cornerstone and a paradox. Intellectually, the eternal, unconditional love of God is a foundational tenet of faith, as Jeremiah 31:3 declares, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Yet, the experiential knowing of this love, especially when spiritual communication feels strained, can be profoundly difficult. It is a testament to the persistent human struggle to fully embrace the boundless grace described in Romans 8:38-39, which assures us that nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God." The journey then shifts towards restoration, yearning to "learn how it used to feel / In days I knew Your love was real." This deep desire for renewed intimacy breathes life into a heart that "once was dead," signifying a spiritual rebirth, an awakening to the pulsating reality of God's presence. In this new vitality, the song reveals yet another arduous phase: "the healing." This process is rarely instantaneous but often a tender, ongoing work, as God "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3), mending the spiritual scars incurred along the path.
From this place of healing, a vibrant transformation begins, likened to "a fire within the spark" and "a flame has brightened in the dark." This imagery evokes the illuminating power of God's spirit, scattering shadows and revealing truth. John 8:12 proclaims Jesus as "the light of the world," promising that "whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." This divine illumination brings clarity, causing life to be "revealing." With new sight, however, comes the next profound challenge: "the believing." Faith, while a gift, is also an act of will, a continuous choice to trust in what is unseen, as Hebrews 11:1 defines it. The struggle to believe, even when light shines, echoes the cry of the father in Mark 9:24, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" The song cyclical structure brings us back to the recurring motif of circling around and seeking meaning, culminating again in the truth of God’s foundational love.
The resolution, or perhaps, the enduring struggle, is articulated in the song's return to its opening sentiment: "Still those old whispers sound convincing / The hardest part is the listening." This final iteration reminds us that even after moments of profound revelation and healing, the spiritual journey is not devoid of renewed challenges. The "old whispers" represent doubts, past fears, or worldly distractions that seek to cloud our perception of God's voice. This calls for constant vigilance and discernment, a commitment to tune our spiritual ears to the Shepherd's voice, as Jesus states in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." "The Hardest Part" is ultimately an inspiring anthem for the persevering soul, acknowledging the very human struggles of faith—the waiting, the healing, the believing, and especially the listening—while holding fast to the undeniable truth of God's unwavering love from the very beginning. It encourages a resilient spirit, affirming that these "hardest parts" are not signs of failure but integral to the deepening of our walk with the Divine.