There are no words in times like these
When tears don’t hide the tragedies
And all you want is a reason for the world

No comfort in a greeting card
‘Cause God is good, but life’s still hard
And your heart just wants a reason for the world

But maybe the reason for the pain
Is so that we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for our hope
Is so that we can face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

For God so loved your broken heart
He sent his Son to where you are
And He died to give a reason for the world

So lift your sorrows to the One
Whose plan for you has just begun
And rest here in the hands that hold the world

Well, I know you’re past the point of broken
Surrounded by your fear
I know your feet are tired and weary
From the road that you walk down here
But just keep your eyes on heaven and know that you are not alone
Remember the reason for the world

No ear has heard, no eye has seen
Not even in your wildest dreams
The beauty that awaits beyond the world

When you look into the eyes of Grace
And hear the voice of Mercy say
Child, welcome to the reason for the world


Written by Matthew West © 2010 External Combustion Music / Songs For Delaney / Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, LLC) (ASCAP)

Behind the Song:
"matthew...you already know our story so well, but this tues, march 2, is the 1st anniversary of losing our precious ryan...the things that have transpired over this past year have been the most amazing things we have ever seen and more than ryan could have imagined...he prayed to be a light for God, to make a difference, to be famous and be able to share Gods love in a huge way...his prayer to NOT go through the motions put us all in a path that we never dreamed would happen...today we gathered at his grave and his granfather spoke and said "ryan has touched more lives in his death than he ever could have in his life"...so this was ryans legacy, and his prayer to reach others was answered...our family is incomplete until we are together again....."

Matthew’s commentary:
Ryan McAfee was an amazing 18 year old kid from a small town in Oklahoma who loved his family, his friends, but most of all he loved God. Everywhere he went, he impacted the lives of those around him. Ryan was involved in car accident and his life came to a tragic end, leaving his family and friends holding broken hearts and unanswered prayers.

I was informed that my song, “The Motions” was played at Ryan’s memorial service, because it was one of his favorite songs, and he had posted the lyrics on his facebook page the day before he passed away. I reached out to this family when I heard this, and we have become good friends since. Ryan’s older brother even went on tour with me, speaking to audiences across the country about his brother’s life and death. To this day, Ryan’s life continues to touch many others.

But even as a family tries to pick up the pieces in the wake of such a tragedy, the questions don’t always go away so quickly. As a mother says goodbye to her son, in the deepest part of her heartbreak, she cannot find a good reason why this has happened. This is the reality of our limited view as humans. We cannot see the big picture, and we were never designed to. God is all knowing, the holder of tomorrow. The one who knows the reason why bad things happen to good people.

But the hope that we can hold on to in times of tragedy, the anchor for our souls when we are treading water in a sea of grief is this promise that He has “prepared a place” for us. This place called Heaven is a place where every tear will be wiped away, and every question answered. This is the promise that makes me long for home."