“May the Lord smile down on you and show you his kindness. May the Lord answer your prayers and give you peace.” Numbers 6:25-27
In 2 Kings chapter 4, there is a story of Elisha visiting the home of a widow and her son. They had no oil or grain and she was desperate to have food for her and her son. God smiled on them and provided for them. He continued to miraculously fill up their jars for years during this famine. But after that famine, the son was out in the field working and got a strong headache. He came back in from the field and fell over dead. How could that mother process what just happened? For years, God provided food for them and preserved her son's life during the famine. Yet, in this instantaneous moment, her son was dead. That’s the backdrop of the song “Handed Heaven." The mother calls out to God in the tragedy, asking him to smile down on them and rescue them. In her case, He did. Elisha came and witnessed an amazing miracle that brought the son back to life and restored his relationship with his mother. She felt God smile on her that day.
The theme of the album Fragile explores personal loss. "Handed Heaven" opens with a glimmer of hope that we all long to experience. If you're still waiting, or if you're feeling that there is no hope - may this song help you imagine the possibility that a miracle could still happen.
Handed Heaven by Jen Hawley
Lyrics Jen Hawley @2023
Running to you vessel dry
Pain blinding sight, faith my eyes
I’m not going back ’til You smile
You handed heaven to us
Handed heaven to us
It’s like a barren womb great with child
Or a son died to young, but back to life
You’ve done this before when You smile
You handed heaven to us
Handed heaven to us
Brought new life from this dust
You handed heaven to us
Would you smile on us
Please smile on us
Remember You told us
Your grace has no end
You handed heaven to us
Handed heaven to us
Brought new life from this dust
You handed heaven to us