Is There Any Way?

Richard Smallwood's “Is There Any Way?” is a gospel prayer that begins with an honest question: is there any way that I can make it? The singer feels there is a long road ahead and admits it may not be easy, but holds on to an assurance that God promised to see him through.

The second section describes how every turn brings a new beginning and something never faced before. Then he is in the middle of a storm, crying to the Lord that he just wants to die, and he falls right back into God's loving arms. Looking back, he sees mountains he thought he had climbed and knows it was really God who carried him through. He admits to tears and rain but says he is going on just the same. The closing lines repeat God's promise to be with him through the storm and the rain, ending with the declaration that God is his everything. Smallwood is known for pairing plain testimony with rich piano arrangements, and the quiet delivery here lets the doubt and the trust sit next to each other. The song does not hide discouragement, which is why it often reaches people in the middle of a hard season. It suits a service of prayer, a hospital visit or a private moment when the next step is unclear and a person needs reminding of who has been carrying them.

Being carried to old age is Isaiah 46:4. Walking through the valley with God is Psalm 23:4, and his promise never to forsake is Deuteronomy 31:6.