MUSIC: Songs for Groaning Souls

Songs for Groaning Souls
Posted on January 25, 2017  in Blog, Music, Suffering

Last year was difficult in some respects in our home as around 100 days were impacted by sickness, 20 of which involved hospital stays, not to mention doctors appointments, tests, filling prescriptions, and administering medication. Some days were truly exhausting as we tried to care for the responsibilities God has given us in the midst of a harder season of life.
Through this journey I discovered that despite the urge to collapse into bed to catch up on sleep, despite the temptation to despair that all that needs to get done won’t get done, despite the unanswered questions about what will happen next, the greatest need of the soul, in moments like those, is to worship God. I needed to take my eyes from present circumstances and fix them upon our almighty, sovereign, powerful, ever near Saviour. Whether it was playing songs while driving, singing along at home, or picking up my guitar to sing (albeit out of tune) by myself, I realized how precious it is to express worship to God through music and lyrics especially in times of difficulty. These means of worship are great gifts to us between the better gift of gathering with God’s people to worship congregationally.
This sinking in of this realization, while having personal implications for me, also has interesting pastoral implications. If these songs had helped me, why not others too? So I put together a playlist, burned it to a CD, and passed it along to a church member who, in their trial, wasn’t able to fellowship with God’s people for a time. Since this seemed to help, two others have also received the same. Thanks to Spotify, it’s pretty easy to make that playlist more widely available (you may need to sign up for a free account if you don’t already have one).
Below are songs with biblical and theological content that we need to hear and express, written by brothers and sisters who are gifted with words. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll encounter:
When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace all-sufficient shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.
Or how about this from William Cowper:
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
And this from Psalm 62:
For God alone, my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not quickly be shaken.
Have a listen and let me know what you think! In the meantime, thanks to one of our Bible college students, I’ll be checking out the Shiyr Poets and their efforts to “to render each psalm in its entirety, singing songs of desperation, desire, justice and praise.”
The playlist can be accessed  by clicking here.

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