I have a confession to make. Sometimes, even though I know the last steps of the way back to my own place at the end of a drive, I leave my GPS app running until the very end…because I love to hear someone’s voice (even if it is automated) say, “Welcome home.”

In fact, when I think about all the different words and phrases I would label as nice or even wonderful to hear, those two words together have to be near the top of my list.

But as with other aspects of the human experience, hearing those words in this life, body, and house are only a reflection of a deeper longing. The longing to hear my final and more glorious “Welcome home” in Heaven.

To that end, I’d like to share words to a song I wrote many months ago. (I also wrote a melody, but today I will not sing it for you. Will simply let you hear the beautiful promise in the words and anticipate with me.)

Promise of Heaven

You slip again, I see your struggle and how you long to be free
You look away, too ashamed to lift your eyes to Me
Now hear a voice calling and enter My rest
Close your eyes, come away
To envision the place and the promise of days
An eternity yet to come

Gather close, all My sons and My daughters
Here on the banks of these crystal waters
Claim with joy your prize
Your new name, your new song
Let Me explain what you’ve long ached to know
Let Me catch all of your tears as they flow
With the light of My glory and the full revelation of My love

Your hurt runs deep, all of the pain caused by others you didn’t deserve
Your soul can see all these injustices roaming the face of the earth
Now hear a voice calling and enter My rest
Close your eyes, come away
To envision the place and the promise of days
An eternity yet to come

Gather close, all My sons and My daughters
Here on the banks of these crystal waters
Claim with joy your prize
Your new name, your new song
Let Me explain what you’ve long ached to know
Let Me catch all of your tears as they flow
With the light of My glory and the full revelation of My love
Let Me explain what you’ve long ached to know
Let Me catch all of your tears as they flow
With the light of My glory and the full revelation of My love