New songs by Spirit-led artists can speak to my soul.  Kristene DiMarco’s latest song “Gravity” is such a song.  It is a searching song that subtly probes the hidden life of the soul.  It will make men (if they’re open to it) ask questions regarding their hidden, inner life.  The chorus speaks to the gravity of our condition: “Positivity can’t split these seas/And all my optimism won’t set this captive free/I need a King who hung on Calvary/I’ll always need a God who feels deeply/I need a God who knows the gravity.

Paul describes the gravity of our struggle in Gal. 5:16-18 (NLT): “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.  Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.  But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.” 

Earlier in Romans, Paul laments, “I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong, it is the sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:19-20 – NLT).  Men, that is a pull of gravity in each of us, the pull of our flesh in conflict with the Spirit.  

Each man reading this blog knows of the gravitational pull of the “sinful nature.”  All our positivity and optimism will not release us from this pull.  The singer refers to “This innocent idolatry/Not letting You in too deep/Because who knows if You can handle me.”  In our pride (innocent idolatry), we think we can handle what goes on inside.  We prefer to manage our spiritual life, not realizing we can’t do it without the Lord (John 15:5; Psalm 16:1-2).  

“This innocent idolatry” creates an image of God being “proud of me [when I] keep my tears back behind my eyes.”  Men, we can too easily project the image of a “strong, spiritual man” to hide our real pain.  It’s okay to cry.  The song asks, “When did I decide/I’m not allowed to cry?”  My advice: spend time before God allowing yourself to feel and express your deep, hidden pains. 

The singer laments that her “innocent idolatry” causes her to “make You somehow just like me/Unable to sit in the suffering.”  Then “movin’ too fast past my grief/When you are acquainted with what I’m carrying.”  At the end the singer asks, “Don’t let this truth be lost on me/My God, He feels the gravity of everything.”  

Men, it an absolute, wonderful truth to know that Jesus suffered for you.  Allow yourself to feel your emptiness, nothingness, and hidden shame.  Then look up and out of your pit, into the eyes of love.  See the suffering, wounded heart of God bleeding on the cross for you.  Trust Him to take your pain.   Confess: “This innocent idolatry/I make you somehow just like me/Unable to sit in the suffering.”  

Men, you can break the pull of gravity?  Humble yourself as a child before the Father and let him carry you as you find your way home together.  Claim this promise for yourself: “At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home” (Zeph. 3: 20).