The video for Lizzy Nelson’s song, “Dancing In The Sky,” went viral, especially poignant around the anniversary of 9/11. Even for those not deeply involved in music, Lizzy Nelson’s heartfelt delivery of this song is profoundly moving. Written in the aftermath of losing a friend, the raw emotion of bereavement is palpable throughout the track. For anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, there’s a strange comfort in the resonance of her voice and lyrics.
However, beyond the comfort, it’s the lyrics themselves that truly resonate, revealing a blend of hope and a deeper sense of hopelessness:
What does it look like in heaven?
Is it peaceful, is it free like they say?
Does the sun shine bright forever?
Have your fears and your pain gone away?
Here on earth it feels like everything good is missing since you left,
And here on earth everything’s different, there’s an emptiness.
Oh oh I, I hope your dancing in the sky,
And I hope your singing in the angels choir,
And I hope the angels know what they have,
I’ll bet it’s so nice up in heaven since you arrived.
So tell me what do you do up in heaven?
Are your days filled with love and light?
Is there music, is there art and invention?
Tell me are you happy? Are you more alive?
The Dual Nature of Hope and Hopelessness in Grief
The sense of hope in “Dancing in the Sky” is undeniable. It’s a hope for something more, something better beyond the pain of earthly loss. The repeated phrase, “I hope,” emphasizes this yearning. Lizzy Nelson’s eight questions are all inquiries driven by the hope that her friend has transitioned to a place far superior to the pain felt on earth. This hope is a natural response to grief, a desire to imagine peace and happiness for those we’ve lost.
Yet, the underlying hopelessness is equally present. These powerful lines are posed as questions, not affirmations. There’s no certainty expressed about the existence of heaven, no clear picture of what it might be like, and ultimately, no firm assurance that her friend is truly there, experiencing this hoped-for joy. The song beautifully captures the questioning heart in grief – wanting to believe in a peaceful afterlife, but lacking solid ground for that belief. This resonates deeply with the human experience of loss, where hope often battles with the uncertainty of the unknown.
Finding Solid Hope Beyond “Dancing in the Sky”
In contrast to the questioning hope in “Dancing in the Sky,” Christian faith offers a different perspective. Biblical hope isn’t just a wishful “hope so,” but a confident “know so.” This assurance is grounded in faith, based on the teachings of the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ. For Christians, heaven isn’t a matter of hopeful speculation but a promised reality. This certainty isn’t based on personal merit but on the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus.
This Christian hope provides definitive answers to the very questions Lizzy Nelson poses in her song. For a believer who has passed away, the answer to each question is a resounding “Yes!”:
- Peaceful and Free? Yes, heaven is a place of perfect peace and freedom from earthly burdens.
- Sun Shine Bright Forever? Yes, the light of God’s glory illuminates heaven eternally, far surpassing the sun.
- Fears and Pain Gone Away? Absolutely, heaven is a refuge where all suffering and sorrow are removed.
- Dancing in the Sky and Singing in the Angels’ Choir? While “dancing” might be metaphorical, celebration and joyous worship in the company of angels are certainly part of the heavenly experience.
- Days Filled with Love and Light? Yes, heaven is saturated with God’s love and radiant light.
- Music, Art, and Invention? While the Bible doesn’t detail “invention,” it speaks of unimaginable beauty, creativity, and expressions of worship and joy that likely encompass and exceed earthly art and music.
- Happy and More Alive? Undeniably, heaven is a state of ultimate happiness and a life that is more vibrant and real than anything experienced on earth.
This doesn’t diminish the pain of loss for grieving Christians. The emptiness and the feeling that “everything good is missing” are still real emotions. However, Christian hope provides a framework to process grief with the assurance of God’s promises. The pain is tempered by the certain knowledge of heaven’s reality and the reunion that awaits believers.
It is with genuine sincerity that we can hope and pray that Lizzy Nelson, and anyone touched by her song, discovers this deeper, more certain hope. Perhaps, instead of “Dancing in the Sky” in moments of grief, there’s comfort to be found in the words of Psalm 23, a psalm of confident trust and hope in God’s presence through life and beyond.
Further reading: Psalm 16, 23; John 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 6:11, 17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 2:3; 5:13. Revelation 21-22.
