Music is a universal language for us all. The melody, harmonies, and underlying bass current can take your heart in a hundred different directions. There are songs filled with joy, praise, pain, love, and sorrow that can serve as a form of catharsis for those who listen. Sometimes we don’t have the words ourselves to pray aloud to God when going through a season of sadness and pain. The book of Psalms is jam-packed with prayers and psalms from David’s heart to God’s ears, filled with questions, lament, and praise: “Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray” (Psalm 5:1-2). David knew the power of music and the soul’s need to trust God through any pain we are facing. Follow along as I share the songs I recommend to let sing over you and to sing along to as you trust God through the pain you are facing.
1. Bethany Dillon – Hallelujah
I remember when this song first came out in 2005 and how beautiful and simple the melody and lyrics were. The lyrics that really reached into my heart at the time were “Who can hold the stars and my weary heart? Who can see everything? I’ve fallen so hard, sometimes I feel so far, but not beyond your reach.” Isn’t that just how it feels when you are in the middle of a painful situation? Remembering that God sees you, your situation, and what was said about you when you weren’t around can help you maintain trust in Him in any situation. That right there is enough to make anyone want to sing, “Hallelujah!”
2. CeCe Winans – Believe For It
It’s safe to say most everyone has heard this beautiful anthem over the past few years. I love how beautifully and powerfully CeCe sings this. I have listened to it many times, allowing her powerful voice to help sing up to the heavens for me as I pray and inject the lyrics into my heart, “We know that hope is never lost, for there is still an empty grave. God, we believe, no matter what. There is power in Your name.” Yes, no matter what, we will believe, trust, and hope. Sometimes we have to keep singing it out loud for our hurting hearts to catch up to the truth. I encourage you to stand up while listening to this one at least once and allow the power of the lyrics to soar in your body!
3. Charity Gayle, Steven Musso – I Speak Jesus
Some songs come around every 5-10 years that impact you to the core, and this is one of those for me. If you have ever needed a reminder of the power of speaking the name of Jesus, calling out to Him in your pain, this song is it. Not only are the lyrics magnificent, but the instrumentals are also beautiful! There is a part where the drums kick in and my heart soars: “I just wanna speak the name of Jesus over fear and all anxiety. To every soul held captive by depression, I speak Jesus. ‘Cause your name is power. Your name is life. Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows. Burn like the fire.” It’s a song that uplifts my soul and reminds me that we have the Spirit within us and the power of Jesus’ name to carry us through the pain.
4. Elyssa Figueroa – I Won’t Break
The melody of this song caught my attention first when I found the artist, Elyssa. The beats carry your heart along the journey of the song. The lyrics are pure and simple, “Little steps and still small breaths are how You lead me. Mysteries revealed to me in patient seeking.” I love how we are reminded that all we are asked to do is take the next step—not worrying about what is to come tomorrow, but trusting that He will reveal what we need when we need it. He is really all around us, giving us messages through the Word, our conversations, nature, and in prayer. As she says, “It’s easy, finally leaning.” Remember, you can lean on Him, taking it all one step at a time.
5. Francesca Battistelli – Defender (Neon Feather Remix)
This remix of “Defender” by Francesca was a workout and walking anthem for me for many years, and it still comes up from time to time! It reminds me that in times when I am hurt and feel defenseless, He is my Defender, “Your love becomes my greatest defense. It leads me from the dry wilderness. And all I did was praise. All I did was stay still.” What really stirs my soul is when the music swells and hits the bridge, “When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to your love. You picked up all my pieces and put me back together. You are the defender of my heart.” He is strong, righteous, and loves us so much. What a friend we have in Jesus to trust through anything that comes our way!
6. Samantha Ebert – Flowers
A friend of mine introduced me to this song a year or so ago, and when I listened to it, it felt like a song written from my own personal journal. “So I brought it up in a desperate prayer. Lord, why are you keeping me here? Then he said to me, Child, I’m planting seeds. I’m a good God, and I have a good plan. So trust that I’m holding a watering can. And someday you’ll see that flowers grow in the valley.” The peaceful melody of Samantha’s voice, paired with the heart-wrenching honesty of her lyrics, makes this one a repeat listen for me. I love the analogy of God planting seeds in our lives, watering them with His love and care for us, so that we can see one day, after the pain and tears are shed, that blessings, or flowers, can grow from it all. Try this song out on a rainy day with a cup of coffee or on a sunny day outside resting at the pool. It can be just what you need to feel a spark of hope and purpose in your pain.
7. The Isaacs – Stand Still
This last song selection is probably the oldest of my loves in the list. If you ever get the chance to see The Isaacs in concert, I highly recommend it! I saw them at a small church concert and at The Grand Old Opry, and they poured out their hearts at both concerts just the same. This song is my favorite of theirs, and my favorite lyric is, “When the storm around you rages, and you’re tossed to and fro. When you’re faced with life’s decisions, you're not sure which way to go. Stand still and let God move. Standing still is hard to do. When you feel you have reached the end, He’ll make a way for you. Stand still and let God move.” I can’t begin to tell you how much peace I have felt over the years, listening to this song as I've gone through pain in my life. It is a great reminder of how much we can trust Him as He is always moving on our behalf.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/AntonioGuillem
Mandy Smith is the proud author of Almost There: A 30 Day Journey Where Tomorrow’s Uncertainty Takes a Back Seat to the Promise of Today and loves using the gift of writing to usher readers towards a life that relies on Jesus.
