Even when I don’t
see, I still believe
Jeremy Camp penned these words to a now familiar song just
two weeks after the death of his first wife, Melissa. They had been married
only 3 ½ months when ovarian cancer took her life. He was in a fog and felt
like God wasn’t there and even if he was, he wasn’t listening. After crying out to God, he received an
answer to his sadness from God: “Pick up your guitar.” Jeremy did and wrote “I Still Believe,” a
song that summarized that moment in his life but was a reality in all that had
come before that and all that has followed.
In his recent book, I Still Believe: a memoir
(previously released in 2011 under the same title but different subtitle), Camp
shares his story. He begins with the
early years and speaks openly of the mountaintops and valleys of his life journey.
He speaks openly about his father’s drinking and his father’s conversion to Christ, which takes the Camp family
on a completely different course. Jeremy writes about what it was like growing
up in poverty, yet having parents that were rich in the Lord. Surrendering to
Jesus is a trait that Jeremy learned from his parents and one that he carries
to this day. He recounts his battling of competing desires in his heart and the
triumph of Christ as his chief desire.
The greatest test of his faith came in the death of his
wife. Struggling for answers and wrestling with God about why this happened to
such a faithful girl, Jeremy ultimately surrenders to the foundational timeless
truth: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John
6:68).
Jeremy Camp began using his place as a young widower to magnify
the glory of God in the pain so others could see and believe that God truly can
and will make all things new for those who believe.
Even when I don’t
see, I still believe.
Since the passing of his wife, God has blessed Jeremy Camp
with a new love, three children, and ever-increasing career success. I am
inspired to read of how his second wife is strengthened by the story of Jeremy’s
first wife and wants him to keep sharing the story so others can grow in their
faith for the glory of God’s name.
This story is an illustration of how God makes beauty out of
ashes. Fans of the music of Jeremy Camp would benefit from reading about the
life behind the songs. It will give new meaning to the words that will drive us
all forward in the journey:
Even when I don’t
see, I still believe.
This book was provided by the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.
