The first time I heard the song "Hero" by Skillet, I instantly fell in love with the band. I bought their album "Awake," jammed daily to that album, bought more songs on iTunes and went overkill jamming their songs. The greatest thing about their songs is that the message of God in the lyrics match with what they believe and what they feel like expressing.
One thing I have told people that can’t stand to hear rock, hard rock or metal is that it’s something more than just noise. This something more that I mention is something I will forever stand behind. This type of music is an expression, and that expression is felt throughout the world to anyone who can hear and listen to the lyrics.
A few weeks ago, I heard on a Texas-based Christian radio station Skillet’s new song on their upcoming album “Unleashed." Listening to this song will affirm how I have been feeling these last few months.
This song, called “Stars,” is in my opinion, their best song ever, and the message behind it is absolutely beautiful. It's about putting our troubles in God’s hands and completely trusting him. They never mention God in the lyrics itself, but the message makes clear the reference to God. Whenever I have a tough situation, I have learned it is best to put it in God’s hands and He will deal with it. I’m trusting him to get me through it, and I accept whatever the outcome may be.
In the song "Stars," the chorus says: "If you can hold the stars in place, you can hold my heart the same, whenever I fall away, whenever I start to break. So here I am, lifting up my heart, to the one who holds the stars." This part of the song truly describes what God is all about. He is love, and whenever we ask for help, He is always there for us. In the lyrics, John Cooper, the lead singer for Skillet, expresses that he is recognizing God’s authority and sovereignty. He recognizes who God is. He’s trusting God to get him through life and all life throws at us. Another section of the song describes a God who will never leave our side even when we think He will or won’t acknowledge that He’s there. Nothing will separate us from His love.
Another section of the song says, "The deepest steps, the darkest nights can’t separate, can’t keep me from your side. I get so lost, forget my way, but still you love and you don’t forget my name." As I hear those words, I remember that He will never leave my side. Whenever I’m lost, He’s there. When I forget my way and go astray, He will always be there. If I come to a point where I don’t love Him, then He still loves me. For nothing will separate the love He has for me.
When I was high school, I thought I knew God and loved God, but when I got to college, I drifted away and things got increasingly worse. I knew where to turn to, but I ignored that understanding, which led to bad choices. I ignored the constant call to return to Him, but He loved me anyway. There was a time where I thought I wouldn’t be here writing this, but the past couple years makes me feel obligated to express these thoughts. Last year, I awoke from bad decisions and went back to Him because He was there. I have learned and still learn to trust Him more, and this song is everything I have been feeling lately. It affirms the need I have to trust Him to take my situations and let Him in and have control. After all, He is the one who holds the stars.
