The debut self-titled release by Canadian-born artist Jordan St. Cyr was preceded by his big hit, “Fires.” He returns with a letter to the “Weary Traveler.” Aptly titled, “Weary Traveler” gives hope to the tired soul on the brink of giving up. The piano-led ballad follows on the heels of Jordan’s powerful debut single, “Fires.” It feels timely in the wake of a long global pandemic, racial and political division, and an abundance of suffering and loss.
“Weary Traveler” has been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God completely—no matter our circumstances or personal distractions or concerns. This song has become a personal prayer for me in the style of songs like “Something Beautiful” by NEEDTOBREATHE, “Help Me Find It” by Sidewalk Prophets, and “Start a Fire” by Unspoken. I had the chance to speak with Jordan about “Weary Traveler.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
“Weary Traveler” takes its inspiration from real life as I’ve been traveling the country touring and singing songs, all the while thinking of my exhausted wife back home taking care of our children, including our young daughter who battles an ongoing sickness.
This song is about the journey a lot of us are on right now. For me and my family, navigating the chronic illness of my youngest daughter has been impossible at times. But what has made it all worthwhile is knowing we were never meant to walk in our struggle alone.
What Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Matthew 11:28 (NIV): “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV): “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Psalm 61:1-2(NIV): “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I call to you, when my heart is faint.”
1 John 1:5(NKJV): "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."
Romans 8:11(VOICE): "If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you."
2 Corinthians 4:6(NKJV): "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
What is the takeaway message?
As a world, we’ve been through so much. The storms we’ve weathered and the struggles we’re walking through have left us so weary. It’s the kind of weariness that gets in our bones: our soul hurts and our heart breaks. It seems like there’s no end in sight. Yet something inside of us, that still small voice whispers, ‘even when you believe you have nothing left to give,’ it says those words ‘carry on.'
God has given us this amazing and beautiful life. But we still get those days and seasons that can leave us run down and worn out. I believe that one day we will find complete rest and healing when Jesus calls us by name. And that one day soon we will make it home.
Lyrics
Weary traveler Beat down from the storms that you have weathered Feels like this road just might go on forever Carry on
You keep on giving But every day this world just keeps on taking Your tired heart is on the edge of breaking Carry on
Weary traveler, restless soul
You were never meant to walk this road alone It’ll all be worth it so just hold on Weary traveler, You won’t be weary long
No more searching
Heaven’s healing’s gonna find where all the hurt is
When Jesus calls we'll lay down all our heavy burdens Carry on
Someday soon we're gonna make it home
Closing Thoughts
Sometimes Christians know facts about the Bible, but don't live out the truth that the Holy Spirit is living inside of us. Jesus said in Luke 12:49 (NKJV): "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled."
Before God created man, He created light. He sent Jesus so that we could have light return. As believers, that's our story, and our challenge, to think about how we are reflecting the light of Jesus and how we are spending our time before we die.
God wants to hear from you. Get to that place where you are in humble submission to God. Don’t play it safe but take a chance and ask for God to be real in your life. You’ll never see true beauty if you don’t fully submit to Him. More than just intellectual assent, God wants to be at the center of your heart’s desires. We change our minds quickly, but our hearts are more devoted.
Remember that earth isn’t your permanent home. Your freedom from the restlessness of this world will come when you enter the true rest that can only come from living eternally with Jesus Christ.
This song has become a personal worship anthem for me to sing daily and remember that “everything under the sun is meaningless.” As St. Augustine put it so perfectly, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” This song celebrates that hope in the song’s bridge, “Someday soon we’re gonna make it home.”
We sometimes put up a wall between us and God. He just wants us to come home to Him. Many of us feel that we’re not worthy of being near God and that He’s using a checklist to determine our worthiness. That’s not the Gospel.
The Good News of the Gospel, which this song perfectly portrays, is that God accepts us no matter what we’ve done or how we’re feeling. Only Jesus can give us our identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us. He is all we need.
“Weary Traveler” connects to the biblical truth found in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." God loves you so much. Lean on Him and He’ll give you strength.
The song includes some great faith statements: “No more searching/Heaven’s healing’s gonna find where all the hurt is. When Jesus calls, we’ll lay down all our heavy burdens. Carry on.” I sing along at the top of my lungs with the sincere and emotive lyrics of submission in the refrain. A great challenge is to make these words your personal prayer: “Weary traveler, restless soul/You were never meant to walk this road alone/It’ll all be worth it so just hold on/Weary traveler/You won’t be weary long.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time fan of Christian music and an avid music collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. Currently, he lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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