I recently had the privilege of helping at the phone banks for the Spring fundraiser at my local Christian radio station. Leading up to the fundraiser and throughout it, we heard stories from listeners who were amazed at how often a song was exactly what they needed at that moment in their day.
Have you experienced the same thing? Maybe it was a song. Or perhaps a sermon. How many times do we think the pastor is talking directly to us on a Sunday morning? I’ve felt that way with both songs and sermons, but for me there’s just something extra powerful in music. In the years since Dale passed away, I have stopped to sing along with (and often cry through) innumerable songs that also hit me at just the right time.
I agree 100% that God is in the details of those song playlists, so that he can speak directly to the people he wants to touch. That’s at the heart of understanding the extensive reach of God’s sovereignty. He’s essentially in and over everything.
But I had an additional thought recently about these laser-focused songs intended specifically for us during our challenging times.
Since I listen to this station exclusively, I’ve begun to realize the overwhelming number of songs that have words that touch our hearts as we walk through our particular trial. There is a theme of heartache and triumph in so many of these Christian songs.
Why do you suppose that’s true? My opinion is that a vast majority of the song writers and singers have also walked through difficulties, and have seen God’s hand on them through those hard times. Accompanying those verses and choruses of heartbreak are the words that speak about the victory we can have over our trials by looking to God to walk us through them.
If you’re a singer/songwriter, you’ll write about what has touched you the most profoundly. Facing a battle and emerging triumphantly on the other side is about as powerful a story as you can tell. No wonder we relate to these on such a deep level.
Whether we realize it or not, the trajectory of these songs is a direct reflection of what life on earth consists of. We’ve all lived it to one degree or another.
Now, I don’t know if other stations play only songs of praise, choosing to “go lighter” on the songs that hint at or scream about the reality of our “fiery trials” (1 Peter 4:12). I think that would eventually cause me to question if I was doing something wrong, since my life isn’t quite that rosy.
Either way, it made me incredibly grateful that we have a station that isn’t afraid to represent the full spectrum of life.
This is not a paid advertisement, but more of a public service announcement. If you live in the Central Iowa area, or want to listen through their website, I’d love to invite you to make Life 107.1 your go-to source of soul-satisfying Christian music and commentary. They lift up all my days with humor, insights and songs that bless me through every stage of my life.
I know many of the staff personally and can assure you they have all lived out their own journey of challenges. Consequently God has developed in them a heart to help others know they aren’t alone in their struggles – and to point them to Jesus as the only true source of comfort and hope.
Why not invite them into your home and your car?
PSA over! Have a blessed week!
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3