Recently, a member of my songwriting community passed away, and we were invited to write a song about how each day is a gift. I remember thinking about that and the ways some days feel easier to believe that than others. I thought about people I know who really struggle to find joy in life, and I tried to keep all of that in mind while writing this song.
Life can be beautiful, but it can also be painful and complicated. There are things we go through that we don’t fully understand, and seasons where we wish answers or healing would come faster than they do. I’ve had moments where I’ve asked God to take difficult things away, both for myself and for others, and have felt there was a purpose in walking through them for a while longer.
As I wrote this song, I kept coming back to the thought that maybe gratitude is not about pretending life is easy. Maybe it’s about continuing to look for meaning, growth, joy, and hope even in the middle of hard things. It’s something I continue to work on in my own life.
I’m really grateful to Becky Willard for producing this song, for her beautiful vocals, and for the way she brought it to life. I love the emotion and heart she brought to it.
My hope is that this song meets people wherever they are right now. Whether life feels joyful, difficult, or somewhere in between, I hope it brings a little peace, hope, and perspective.
Verse 1
I see the challenges of life
And wonder how I’m gonna make it
Ask the Lord to take it
But He seems to think I need it
For a while
Pre Chorus
I don’t know the ins and outs of why we suffer here
But I know that my Jesus knows
And that He will be near
Chorus
And this life is a gift, yeah
Good days and bad included
Some say that I’m deluded
But I have those voices muted
Cause each and every day I’m breathing, you will find me Jesus seeking, testimony sharing and believing
Cause this life is a gift
Yeah, this life is a gift
Verse 2
I’ll find the blessings in my life
And if they’re buried I will dig in
Ask the Lord to show them
And still trust if some are hidden
For a while
Chorus
Cause this life is a gift, yeah
Good days and bad included
Some say that I’m deluded
But I have those voices muted
Cause each and every day I’m breathing
You will find me Jesus seeking
Testimony sharing and believing
Cause this life is a gift
Yeah, this life is a gift
Bridge
Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed
So I’ll look for joy each day I breathe