Shaun, in a comment on Insiders Look: Part 5 asked “What other not happy songs have helped you, inspired you, made you think, rescued you?” I think this is a good board topic, so hear we go. I listed a few in the comments for the post:
Sara Groves’ “Maybe There’s a Loving God” and “Like a Skin”
Todd Agnew’s “Wait for Your Rain”
Steve Camp’s “He Covers Me”
Here are a couple more:
Bruce Carroll’s “Sometimes Miracles Hide”
Great story about fighting through the trial of a expecting and raising a child that is not perfect. Patience will help us find God’s miracles.
David Meece’s “My Father’s Chair”
The song goes from hopelessness in a child longing for his father, to the child grown up loving his kids, to him dreaming of meeting our Father. Hearing David Meece tell the story of his father, a drunk who was abusive and often absent, is a powerful testimony to the love he finds in his true Father. Despite the struggles and trials. Listening to this continues to encourage me to be a better father to my two kids, and a better husband to my wife.
Ray Boltz’s “The Anchor Holds
The second verse and chorus were written by a friend of his who was struggling with repeated miscarriages in the late stages of pregnancy, the loss he felt as each child was taken from he and his wife but the strength they found anchored in God. This one is especially touching to me, as I watched my brother and sister-in-law carry a child to full term, knowing full well she had little chance of surviving more than a few hours after birth. We all held this little girl, cried, and knew that God was still there. Not a happy time, but strong; this song encouraged me to remain anchored.
I love this song. It somehow manages to empathize with one’s situation and provide comfort at the same time. It’s beautiful and gives me chills everytime. It also came into my life at a time when I felt God was very silent.
I’m certain there are more, but this one comes to mind immediately.
This is quite a coinsidence. I was just thinking about a song that is really helping me right now and was coming here to say something about it, but I didn’t know this topic had been formed yet. Guess who it’s by?
Andrew Peterson.
The song is The Havens Grey.
I’m just hurting right now and a touch confused, and this song is really encouraging. The whole album it’s on (The Far Country) is an encouragement because it reminds me of heaven, taking my thoughts off of the present and letting me remember why this life is worth living. I’ll post the lyrics in the Favorite Song Lyrics thread.
I really like “Maybe There’s a Loving God”—though it didn’t come to mind when thinking to reply to this. She’s got a handful that I love. Probably my favorite right now is a demo of “Weakness Be Our Strength” that was released on a bonus CD in a special version of “The Other Side of Something”. (She recorded a full version of it on the next album, but I don’t like it near as much as the original demo.)
Billy Crockett fills all my top slots in this category for me. “A Father’s Love”, “The Day I Gave My Heart Away”, “You Gave Us Wings”, “Here’s to the Day” are just ones that jump to mind. His writing really clicks with me, many of his songs are bittersweet in my ear, they really resonate with my feel of the Christian life here on planet doom. Even the ones with more straight-ahead encouraging lyrics are surrounded with an aesthetic of sad comfort.
I’m also a big Lyle Mays fan - and he has some solo material that grips me.
I wish I could hear the whole Andrew Peterson tune - found a snippet somewhere on the ‘net - the lyrics are interesting. I think I’ve found the Bruce Carroll tune, but it’s still downloading, so I don’t know if it’ll have anything I can listen to in it or not.
As we are in the week before Easter, singing directly to Jesus or in reflective prayer about Jesus really has an impact on me. The 3 songs I tend to reflect on are “Completely Free” by Big Daddy Weave, “Give Me Jesus” by Fernando Ortega and “Here I Am” by Shaun. They are all such beautiful songs and melodies and are my 3 favorite songs ever.
"Hello, Goodbye” from the “Live the Life” cd by MWS. I was pregnant with our fourth then and it was high risk. I was a nervous wreck about losing her. Listening to that song made me cry, but also did a lot to bring the realization that if she wasn’t going to be here with us, she’d be in God’s arms.
A few older hymns have deeply affected me over the years, and they definately cross into the “not happy” on occassion. “Be Thou My Vision” is one that gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so. “O Sacred Head” is a wonderful song dwelling on Jesus death and our gratitude for His suffering. Probably my all-time favorite song is “The Old Rugged Cross” (I blogged about this some time ago).
I also like “Hello Goodbye” and I just made a playlist of songs that fit this definition and some of the songs that haven’t been mentioned yet are “Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)” by Chris Rice, “Who Am I?/Grace Falls Down” by Watermark, “Cry Out To Jesus” by Third Day, “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” by Selah, and “Let My Words Be Few” by Matt Redman. These are all some of my all-time favorite songs. Several Shaun songs made my playlist including “Twilight”, “Jesus” and “Should I Tell Them?”. I’m often surprised that although all of these songs were released so few of them actually become “hits” considering how powerful the messages are.
"It Is Well With My Soul” is probably my all time favorite. This was my mother’s theme song when she was diagnosed with cancer and my cousin sang it at her funeral. She knew that no matter what may befall her physical body here on earth, her body in heaven would be perfect and she’d be in the presence of God. Her soul was always well.
If you haven’t heard it yet, you must listen to the Future of Forestry song “Speak to me Gently” from Twilight (also the song “Twilight"). Here are the words from “Speak to me Gently”:
Future Of Forestry – Speak To Me Gently
Sadness and rhyme, These are the times
These are the memories.
We find a way, Pushing through the day
So speak to me gently.
Can you just feel the time, Falling from some place new?
Can you just feel the sign, Love waits for you?
Love waits for you.
I’m searching the stars, In desperate hours
Bound to find meaning.
God show me a face, In this desolate place
And tenderness meets me.
Can you just feel the time, Falling from some place new?
Can you just feel the sign, Love waits for you?
Love waits for you.
Stories untold, Of redwoods grown old
Reside in the forest.
And there you can hear, A whispering tear
That speaks into our loneliness.
Can you just feel the time, Falling from some place new?
Can you just feel the sign, Love waits for you? (x2)
Love waits for you.
