My heart is both heavy and filled with a holy anticipation to be releasing a brand new song today, “Heaven Is Too Far Away”.
In October 2021, a pastor friend of mine and his wife experienced the tragic loss of their 17-month old baby girl through a terrible car accident. Their heart-wrenching story rocked me to my core because their precious daughter, Aliyah, was the same age at the time as my son. While I could never begin to grasp the depth of their despair, I felt their pain so deeply.
In the days, weeks, and months that followed the accident, I could not stop thinking about this family. Every night, I would sit in the rocker in my son’s room, holding him tight to my chest, rocking him to sleep as tears streamed down my face because all I could see in my mind was this grief-stricken mother and the unfathomable pain she was enduring with the loss of their precious little girl.
In January 2022, God gave me this song, “Heaven Is Too Far Away”, in honor of their daughter Aliyah Faith Doyle. She would be turning three years old this very weekend. Over this past year, this song has been a gift to this family, and now as I release it into the world, I pray this song is a gift of comfort to other families who have experienced indescribable grief and heartbreak. “Though I’ll never understand the reason why a good and loving God would make us say goodbye, every single joy we’re missing here, we will have eternity to share.” Our God comforts us in our distress, so that we in turn, can comfort others. As hard as it is sometimes, I pray this song inspires a deeper faith to rise up in us, to always trust our God, no matter what.
Download/Stream here: Heaven Is Too Far Away Single
Official Music Video:
Song Lyrics:
“HEAVEN IS TOO FAR AWAY”
Words & Music by Shelly E. Johnson & Sean Hill
© April 2022
Verse 1
I know you’re safe, I know you’re home,
But there’s an ache within my soul
All I want to do is hold you close
Your precious face is all I see
Each breath I take I’m gripped with grief
A mother shouldn’t have to let her baby go
Pre Chorus
When I wonder what you’re doing now,
it brings me just a little peace somehow
Chorus 1
Are you running up and down the golden streets,
Or riding on a lion’s back through fields of green?
Do you wear a sparkly princess crown
at tea parties with Jesus on a cloud?
Are you soaring through the sky on eagles wings,
Or playing angels in a game of hide & seek?
Though you’re snuggled in the Father’s lap,
I would still give anything to have you back
Oh, I know He’ll bring me home to you someday
But Heaven is too far away
Verse 2
I’ve yelled at God, I’ve said my words,
I’ve cried until my eyes have burned
It’s agony to make it through each day
Yet in the depths of my despair,
I feel His presence meet me here
I’m carried by a peace I can’t explain, knowing
Chorus 2
You are chasing butterflies in summer’s breeze
And swimming with the dolphins in the crystal seas
Bedtime stories happen on the moon
as Jesus sings a lullaby for you
You stay up late to watch your dreams play out again
As galaxies shine brilliantly above your head
This is the most fun you’ve ever had,
but I would still give anything to hear you laugh
Oh, I know He’ll bring me home to you someday
But Heaven is too far away
Bridge
Hallelujah! He is good,
My heart will choose to say:
Hallelujah! He is good
Blessed be His Name
Final Chorus
Though I’ll never understand the reason why
A good and loving God would make us say goodbye
Every single joy we’re missing here,
we will have eternity to share!
Someday I’ll come bursting through those gates of pearls
And wrap you in my arms forever, my Sweet Girl
In the land where there is no more pain,
we’ll praise the God who gives and takes away
Oh, I know He’ll bring me home to you someday
But Heaven is too far away
Tag
Baby Girl, I’m longing for that glorious day
Cause Heaven is too far away
