You promised me
That You’d never leave
Or let me go
You promised me
That You’d love me through
The highs and lows
You promised me
You won’t give me more
Than I can bear
You promised me
That when I cry out
That You’d be there
The shadowlands are what I know
So I’m hanging on to Your every word
The shadowlands surround me now
But You walk with me through the cloud
Into the sun
Into the sun
You promised me
If I sow in tears
I’ll reap in joy
You promised me
That You will breathe life
Into my soul
I know it’s true
All that You say
I believe in You
And I am standing on
The promises You’ve made
You promised me and I believe
Written by Rebecca St. James, Matt Bronleewe and Jason Ingram /
©2005 Up In The Mix Music / Rambuka Music (BMI), admin. by EMI CMG Publishing / Aetataureate Music (BMI) / Dayspring Music Publishing (BMI)
Behind the Song:“Since I was a child, I’ve been inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis. He talks about the ‘shadowlands’ in some of his work. To me, the ‘shadowlands’ represent the times in our lives when we feel like we are walking through a valley filled with a deep cloud—and we just can’t see how we’re going to move out of it—we can’t see much hope or the light at the end of the journey. I’ve been in those spots before in my own life. Times when feelings of discouragement and vulnerability seem to surround me… so much that it’s hard to see the light. What this song really says is that there is hope in the form of our God - who is constantly there with us even in the shadowlands. He will bring us through, out of the clouds and back into the light. I think there’s symbolism in that we’re using the word ‘sun’ in this song and at the same time we’re talking about the Son of God—Jesus—being the giver of that light. Another thing I enjoy about this song is that it talks about the promises of God—such as, ‘if I sow in tears, I’ll reap in joy’. My favorite part of the song is the bridge where it says:
‘
I know it’s true—all that you say. I believe in you…
And I’m standing on the promises you’ve made.’
To me, that’s such a big declaration of my faith.” - Rebecca St. James