Out of the Dust · Track 9
A Redeemed Country song for anyone afraid when life shakes
The question behind the song
How do I stand firm when everything is shaking? Not in your own strength. Christ is the Solid Stone, and the battle is His. We stand because He holds the line.
On every major streaming service. Spotify · Buy the song
Psalm 46 pictures the whole world coming apart: the earth giving way, mountains falling into the sea. In the middle of it, the psalmist refuses to fear, because of who God is:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
Psalm 46:1–3The song's title and its anchor verse come from David's song after the LORD delivered him from all his enemies:
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
Psalm 18:2That's the Solid Stone of the chorus, and the Shield of the verses.
The song quotes the Lord's word to Zerubbabel, when the work in front of him looked impossible:
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 4:6Hebrews calls Christ the “captain” of our salvation, the General who leads His people home:
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Hebrews 2:10When I first wrote this song, I wanted it to be a battle cry for believers. I wrote it from the angle that we don't fear. We stand our ground no matter what.
Then my wife read it. She noticed that “we” were doing all the work. We don't tire. We hold the line. We win the fight. She told me I'd put a lot of faith in “we,” and she didn't like the song because of it.
She was right. Without Him, we lose. In trying to write a battle cry, I'd made it about the soldiers instead of the General who leads them. Without the General, the troops are scattered and leaderless.
So I went back to the drawing board. Now the song points where it should. Christ is the one who gives us strength. It's His Spirit in us that drowns out the fear we so easily give in to. He is our shield. He is our sword. He holds the line. No matter what happens, we trust Him and we follow Him, and He will lead us home.
When I showed my wife the new version, it got her seal of approval. Now it's one of her favorites.
Fear is the obvious enemy: a diagnosis, a layoff, a world that seems to be shaking apart. But there's a quieter danger too. Even confident faith can slowly become faith in ourselves, in our resolve, our toughness, our ability to hold the line.
Scripture is honest about where that leads: “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5). Our courage doesn't come from being strong. It comes from the One who is.
“The battle is not yours, but God's” (2 Chronicles 20:15). That isn't a call to stop standing. It's the reason we can.
We don't shake at the thunder, 'cause He's the Solid Stone
He's the King of Heaven, seated on the throne
We don't flinch at the lightning, He stays our souls
His victory is coming, we'll make it home
For personal study, a small group, or Biblical Counseling. Listen to the song, read Psalm 46, then work through these questions.
2 Chronicles 20:15 · Psalm 56:3 · Isaiah 41:10 · 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 · Ephesians 6:10 · 1 Peter 2:9
Hear the full song at MaverickATC.com/songs/standing-on-the-stone · Maverick at the Cross
Questions
What does Psalm 46:1–3 mean?
It means God Himself is our safe place when everything else gives way: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.”
How can a Christian overcome fear?
By putting our trust in God rather than in ourselves. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3).
What does “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” mean?
God's work is done by His Spirit, not by human strength (Zechariah 4:6). We stand firm because He empowers us, not because we're strong enough on our own.
Is there a Christian song about not being afraid?
Yes. “Standing on the Stone” is a Redeemed Country song about facing fear by trusting Christ's strength instead of our own.
Where can I listen to “Standing on the Stone”?
“Standing on the Stone” is track 9 on the album Out of the Dust. It's on every major streaming service, and the full lyric video is on YouTube.
Standing on the Stone is one stop on Out of the Dust, one redemption story from the first encounter with Jesus to the final victory.