Into Faith I Go - Pat Barrett
I've never been good at change
If I'm honest, it's always scared me
But I can't deny this stirring deep inside me
Now I know it's time to stop resisting
'Cause I'm not getting any younger
Fear is a such a sad way to live a life
So face to the wind, I'm jumping out, I'm walking in
Every single thing You want to show me
To the ups and downs, the highs and lows
To the taking in, the letting go
To tears and laughter, the great unknown
To the open journey, into faith, I go
Into faith, I go
Nobody said this would be easy
Anyone who did never went through anything painful
But faith is not some fragile thing that
Shatters when we walk through something hard
So, we walk on whatever may come
To the ups and downs, the highs and lows
To the taking in, the letting go
To the tears and laughter, the great unknown
To the open journey, into faith, I go
Running like a child in an open field
Stepping off the edge, I'm facing all my fears
If this is what it feels like to be born again
I'll be born again
So when I feel like giving up
When I feel like throwing it all away
I look back over my shoulder
And I can see Your goodness every single step that I have taken
And it beats like a drum
And it rings like a bell
And it sings like a choir
And it's leading me on my way
Oh, You lead me on my way
To the ups and downs, the highs and lows
To the taking in, the letting go
To tears and laughter, the great unknown
To the open journey, into faith, I go
Into faith, I go
Into faith, I go
Publishing: © Capitol Christian Music Group
Writers: Ed Cash, Pat Barrett 
Sometimes you just need a certain song at a certain time. Sometimes the words wash over you and resonate in your soul. Whew, I love those moments.
I’ll be honest. I haven’t been listening to a lot of music these days. At least not a lot of new or current Christian music. So I’m a bit out of touch with what is hip and trendy at the moment! But I have been listening to an album which is already a couple of years old; a debut from Christian worship and praise artist Pat Barrett. Barrett may not be a household name (yet) but you know many of the songs he has written or been part of: Good Good Father, The Way (New Horizon) and Build My Life for starters. As I listened to his newest album again, it’s the first track, Into Faith I Go, that hits me square between the eyes.
There are so many good lines as you move throughout the lyrics of Into Faith I Go. Some philosophical. Some theological. All of it about life and faith and being willing to step out of our comfort zones. The thing I love is the raw honesty Barrett and co-writer Ed Cash allow within this song. The fact that change is hard but faith requires us to embrace change. The fact that life is short (‘Cause I'm not getting any younger). The fact that the Gospel burns a fire deep within and to resist it is to deny that which is so much of what we are in Christ.
I love this song and wanted to include it in the “More Than A Song” series because you can’t listen to it and walk away unchanged. You see, Into Faith I Go is a story that is not just Pat Barrett’s. It is a story that encompasses all of us if we are in Christ and we are moving forward with His Great Commission and call upon our lives. We had a blog just a few weeks back (Passing The Baton) which focused much on this idea of the brevity of life and the choice to use it for Christ - or not to.
To the ups and downs, the highs and lows
To the taking in, the letting go
To tears and laughter, the great unknown
To the open journey, into faith, I go
Into faith, I go
Sure there will be mountains and valleys in the journey. Much like Solomon’s discourse in Ecclesiastes 3:1 (For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven), life happens and indeed there is a time to be born, and a time to die (3:2). Barrett and Cash in full disclosure write a chorus that resounds with this sentiment. The journey involves the extremes of all these things yet we do not shrink back and retreat. We go forward with the faith and knowledge that Christ goes before us.
Nobody said this would be easy
Anyone who did never went through anything painful
But faith is not some fragile thing that
Shatters when we walk through something hard
So, we walk on whatever may come
To look at our faith as something not so fragile is beautiful imagery and a recognition that what we hold onto must be strong enough to carry us through the various fires of life. If our faith is not strong, it will not be there when we do face hard times. Because there will be times when it seems easier to give up and throw it all away. But the idea that our faith goes with us as we move forward and indeed carries us, is powerful stuff. Stuff we need to be reminded of each and everyday. 
Into Faith I Go hits a climatic peak in the bridge lyric and it is those lines that I wish to close with today. After considering the cost and facing our fears, the only place we can go (if we’re honest) is to jump in: Running like a child in an open field, stepping off the edge, I'm facing all my fears. We’ve all faced a rough past few months with the pandemic of COVID-19 and the aftermath and fallout from all that it brings. But into our crisis, God is asking “Will you still go? Will you still run this race?” Is fear enough to hold us back and to shut our mouths up? Are we restrained from preaching Christ and proclaiming His truth? I believe we are not. I believe we must allow our faith to make us bold again. To call us out again. Into faith, we must go!
I want to leave you with a quote image from Hannah Hurnard’s classic book of the faith Hinds’ Feet On High Places. It’s an allegorical book, speaking into this journey we all must take if we follow Christ. The Shepherd (Jesus) calls out to Much Afraid (the main character) and speaks the truth of what He does in our lives as we commit ourselves to Him:
May you journey deeper with your Savior this week, knowing that Christ delights in taking your fear and turning it into faith.
Sign up to get these blogs delivered to your email inbox! Visit http://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions
Let’s connect:
Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derekcharlesjohnson1/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/derekcharlesjohnson
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17
Other "More Than A Song" blogs:
Leaning In by Carrollton
I Wanna Go Back by David Dunn
Endless Alleluia by Cory Asbury
Confidence by Sanctus Real
O Come All Ye Faithful (Christmas Edition)
Living Hope by Phil Wickham
Pray by Derek Charles Johnson
Other blogs for further reading:
Determined In Faith (The Fruit Series)
Profiles In Courage - JOSEPH
Putting Christ On Display: To The Career & Family Man (Raising The Standard)