10 songs for the weary heart

Music has a way of speaking to the heart when words fail.

Why is it that music has such a powerful impact on one's mind and soul?  I find that a song can be playing in the background, and the words and ideas about the words will fill my mind--even though I am not even really *trying* to listen to the song!

Deeply rooted from our longing to join in the heavenly, eternal song of "Holy, holy, holy..." I believe that God has given us the gift of music here on earth to give us a tiny glimpse of the beautiful gift that reigns over all of heaven.  The gift of song...the art, the worship.

Today, I have 10 of my favorite songs to share with you for when your heart is feeling worn and weary.

10 songs to lift you up, to remind you of the goodness of God, the power of God, and His overwhelming love.

10 songs, prayers, cries out to the Lord...to remind us that we're not alone.

1. Never Alone, by BarlowGirl

"I cried out with no reply

And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone..."

2. Broken Hallelujah, by The Afters

"I've seen joy and I've seen pain.

On my knees, I call Your name.
Here's my broken hallelujah.

With nothing left to hold onto,
I raise these empty hands to You.
Here's my broken hallelujah."

3. Hold Me, Jesus, by Rich Mullins

"Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all

When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace"

4. Promises, by Sanctus Real

"Sometimes it's hard to keep believing in what you can't see

That everything happens for a reason even the worst life brings
If you're reaching for an answer and you don't know what to pray
Just open up the pages, let His Word be your strength..."

5. Lord, I Need You, by Chris Tomlin

"Lord, I come, I confess

Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You..."

6. For the Moments I Feel Faint, by Relient K

"Never underestimate my Jesus

You're tellin' me that there's no hope
I'm tellin' you, you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong..."

7. Never Left Your Side, by Stellar Kart

"So you feel another midnight on the way

Can’t see the road ahead
Though you’re wide awake
All the voices in your head begin to say
You’re alone, you’re alone

The sun’s still shining through the night
The stars still burn in the daylight
Sometimes you just can’t trust your eyes
I never left your side..."

8. 5 Minutes at a Time, Superchick

"Life is hard, but it's been a little harder than usual lately

I wish I knew why I am struggling through this
What makes it harder is the lack of understanding on my part
Could I have changed this, why am I fighting life so hard?"

9. It's Not Over Yet, by for King and Country

"They are inside your head

You got a voice that says
You won't get past this one
You won't win your freedom

It's like a constant war
And you want to settle that score
But you're bruised and beaten
And you feel defeated

This goes out to the heaviest heart..."

10. Still That Girl, by Britt Nicole

"Dreams, they come

Plans, they change
Yea, we're gonna break
Yea, we're gonna break
Things we face make us who we are
Baby, you're a star shining in the dark
Let's go back to the summer, summer when
We dreamed in love, let's go back again
Let's go back again
Yeah, back again, my friend..."

What songs speak to your heart and lift you up?  I'd love to hear!

waiting room

One of my favorite albums is Jonny Diaz's Beautiful You.

On this album he has a song called Waiting Room.  I remember listening to the album, paying the song no particular heed, until I came upon a particularly rough season, and the lyrics just played in my head...over and over.

Here in this waiting room
Yearning for You to say go.
Though I'm convinced that a yes would be best,
But this time You're telling me no.

It's not that I don't have an answer.
It's just not the one that I'd like
Through all this time, I know I must keep in mind
That you're always wiser than I

'Cause You have a much better purpose
You have a far greater plan
You have a bigger perspective
'Cause You hold this world in Your hands...

I remember a couple years ago, my mom was early pregnancy and encountering the signs of miscarriage.  I remember pleading with God, begging for the tiny life of my little brother or sister.  I remember crying hard, feeling the ache in the pit of my stomach...Don't take him away, Lord.

When that miracle comes cause Your answer is yes
I will praise you for all of my days
But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best
I will praise You just the same

He took him home.  But I still praise Him.  I cannot describe the feeling, how can it hurt so badly to lose someone that you've never even met?

But God has continued to use this song to minister to my heart.  Because I'll always be waiting on something.  There will always be something that requires trust.  It wouldn't be faith if there was no risk of pain.

He has taught me the unexplainable feeling of the peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of overwhelming ache.  The intoxicating joy, the miraculous serenity that comes from having an unshakable foundation in the sovereign reign of the King of the universe, that so happens to be my Father.

Because Jesus is Lord, I know that when I wait, I wait upon Him that can make mountains move.

I know that He knows the end.  And if He loved me enough to die the most excruciating death, does He not love me still?  Is His love not strong enough to cherish me, to give me the absolute best?

Even when it means pain.  Even when it means I don't understand.

He always has a better plan.

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."  

 ~Psalm 27:14