Merweville, Karoo, Western Cape
Merweville, Karoo, Western Cape
“STOP, Kyk Links, Kyk Regs, Kyk Op” began during a few days when life felt louder than usual. Things piled up — situations, conversations, problems that restarted just when I thought I’d finally turned a corner. But what weighed heaviest wasn’t only what was happening around me. It was what was happening inside me.
I didn’t react the way I want to react as a child of God. I got angry. I felt hurt. I felt betrayed. My thoughts ran in circles: “Lord, why does it feel like I keep hitting the same wall? Why do I try and try… and still end up here?”
That place is dangerous because perspective shrinks. Your chest tightens. Your thoughts repeat. You carry today’s unrest into tomorrow, and you start living like peace depends on your ability to fix everything immediately. You want answers, fairness, clarity — now. And in that momentum you become sharp, quick, hard.
Then one morning, while listening to a devotion, a simple line landed with unexpected force: “STOP. Look left. Look right. Look up.” It felt like a holy interruption — not a scolding, a rescue. I realized my worst reactions happen when I don’t stop; when I push forward on emotion; when I try to control; when I act as if my peace depends on me.
So the phrase became a title, but more than that — a prayer. STOP is the pause long enough to breathe and admit: “Lord, I can’t carry this the way I’m carrying it.” Look left and right is the reminder that I’m not alone — God often places help around us, but we miss it when we’re locked into disappointment. And LOOK UP is where help comes from, where calm returns, where guidance becomes clear again.
This song doesn’t deny storms. It chooses a different posture inside them: humility, trust, and taking God’s hand — because some days that is enough.
ISRC Number: QT6EU2636087
Lyrics & story: Dirk Koen • Vocal: AI-assisted instrument • Production: Dirk Koen
Psalm 121:1–2; James 1:19; Proverbs 3:5–6
This song rests on three simple scriptural truths. Psalm 121 teaches me to look up when my heart becomes restless: my help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. James 1:19 pulls me back to wisdom under pressure — quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry — because uncontrolled reactions can damage what God is trying to heal. Proverbs 3 reminds me not to lean on my own understanding but to trust the Lord, and He will make my path straight. That is the prayer behind the chorus: stop, look up, and let God lead. Not by forcing outcomes, but by choosing surrender, clarity, and peace one step at a time.
Intro / Hook (Afrikaans)
Stop, kyk links, kyk regs… kyk op—
Here, ek kies U nou,
my hart was vinnig, my tong was skerp… U genade hou (hou my vas).
Verse 1 (Afrikaans)
Dié laaste dae druk swaar op my skouers, my kop is vol geraas,
ek trap en trap en trap—maar staan weer teen ’n muur van glas.
Ek het kwaad geword, ek het seer gekry, ek het gevoel ek’s alleen,
maar U roep my terug na eenvoudige waarheid: “My kind… stop… kyk weer… kyk heen.”
Chorus 1 (Afrikaans)
Stop—kyk op: my hulp kom van die Here,
Kyk links, kyk regs: ek’s nie alleen nie.
Stop—kyk op: U hand lei my weer,
U maak my stil… U bring my vrede neer.
Verse 2 (Afrikaans)
Leer my, Here: vinnig luister, stadig praat, stadig word ek kwaad,
ek wil nie net “reg” wees nie—ek wil U hart wys in my daad.
As ek verraai voel, as ek moeg raak, as ek weer wil opstaan en stoot,
fluister U sag in my bors: “Stop… hou vas… en kies weer hoop.”
Chorus 2 (Afrikaans)
Stop—kyk op: my hulp kom van die Here,
Kyk links, kyk regs: ek’s nie alleen nie.
Stop—kyk op: U wys my die pad,
U kalmeer my binneste… U hou my vas.
Verse 3 (English)
Some days can press so hard on us, and pull us out of grace,
we try to fix and force our way, then feel we’ve lost our place.
But You keep calling softly, Lord, before I take that step:
“Stop and breathe… look left, look right… look up—take My hand.”
Chorus 3 (English)
Stop—and look up: my help comes from the Lord,
Look left, look right: I’m not alone anymore.
Stop—and look up: You lead me through the strain,
You quiet down my storms… and I can breathe again.
Bridge (English)
When anger rises fast in me, remind me who I am,
Give me calm for today, Lord—teach my heart Your steady plan.
I’ll follow where You lead; I’ll trust You step by step.
Final Chorus (English)
Stop—and look up: my help comes from the Lord,
Look left, look right: I’m held by something more.
Stop—and look up: You guide me into rest,
You quiet down my nights… and put Your peace in my chest.
Outro (English)
Stop… look left… look right… look up…
You take my hand… and that is enough.
Stop… look left… look right… look up…
You take my hand… and that is enough