A Lion Inside Your Lungs

Don't be shy, roar!

In his song “Gratitude,” Brandon Lake sings about praising the Lord.

So I throw up my hands

Praise You again and again

‘Cause all that I have is a

Hallelujah, hallelujah

And I know it’s not much

But I’ve nothing else fit for a King

Except for a heart singing

Hallelujah, hallelujah

It’s a song of thankfulness, of awareness. It admits that while we won’t ever have enough to give back to God for what he’s done for us, we can give what we have, and that is praise. A willingness to praise, a courage to praise, a consistency in praise.

And while worship is a form of praise, it is not the only kind.

We can praise God by admiring his wonders, by loving others, by serving our communities, by using our gifts, by praying, by reading the Bible, by sharing our faith, etc.

When I listen to this song, I often think of the many opportunities I have to love and serve God in the day to day, and I feel especially challenged by the bridge of the song.

So come on my soul, oh, don't you get shy on me

Lift up your song, 'cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs

Get up and praise the Lord

The lyric “don’t you get shy on me” always calls to something inside me. Because as an introvert, I have a tendency to get shy, to stay quiet, to forego vulnerability in favor of self-protection or modesty.  To sit on a story, anecdote, or compliment rather than share it in fear that it might not be the right thing to say in that moment. To hold my faith close so I don’t bother anyone with it or put myself at risk of judgement or persecution.

But then the next line says:

Lift up your song, ‘cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs.

Admittedly, each time I hear/sing this part, I imagine a lion roaring. I hear that mighty sound echoing through jungles, intimidating all who hear it.

A lion’s roar is such a sign of strength, of power. And while I believe in the power of praise, of prayer, I’ve often wondered what this really means for me. For my small voice, for my quiet nature, for my ever-present anxiety.

Don’t you get shy on me, because you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs.

Perhaps, this is a reminder that our words, our actions, our faith, when used to glorify God, do good works, and love others, can be mighty, strong and powerful. They can intimidate the fear, despair and bitterness that exists in someone, making room for kindness, connection, and hope.

So when we get the pull to reach out to a friend, but don’t want to bother them; when we get the urge to compliment a stranger but are scared to start a conversation; when we want to help a friend going through a hard time but are afraid we won’t know what to say—when we are given the opportunity to love, to serve, to connect, to praise God and then we push through the fear and do it, we are roaring! We are casting light through the darkness, we are being louder than the hate and doubt and pride, we are offering our hallelujahs and inviting others to do the same.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that one person can make a real difference, or that a small moment of courage can become a bellowing roar, but with God we can, it can.

Isaiah 60:22 says, “The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

So let out that roar, no matter how tiny it feels. We are not equipped to understand how far and loud it actually is, how desperately searched and listened for, how rescuing, inspiring, and healing—we are just called to use it.

Believe that lion that exists inside of you and get up and praise the Lord!