The Hallway Playlist
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Do you love listening to music? Even though I'm a musician by training, I actually don't listen to a lot of music. It's not that I don't love it, and it's not that I don't have enough access to CDs or Youtube. I think it's that in the business of this season of raising spark plugs, I simply don't think about turning it on.
However, there have been a few songs that have really ministered to me, especially during seasons of struggle (or hallways, as I like to refer to them). Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorites and why these specific ones have impacted me.
As a side note, no song is perfect. Sometimes, I'll resonate with just part of a song. I'm including these because of the impact and blessing they've had in my life, but know that I may not like all aspects of every single one - on some of them, the verses feel a little "anemic," for lack of a better word, or I may not always like the exact style in which it was sung.
Even so, these are the songs that I go back to whenever a hallway looms. I invite you to listen and be encouraged, no matter what season of life you're currently in!
Valley of Vision - During the blur and craziness of the day that Turbo landed in PICU with his diabetes diagnosis, this was the song that played over and over in my head. I especially loved the second verse, because to say that it was dark and difficult to see ahead was an understatement. But the Lord was right there with us throughout it all.
Even If - Although I liked the chorus of this song when I first heard it, it was only after learning that Mercy Me's lead singer Bart wrote it because of his son's struggle with Type 1 Diabetes that I absolutely fell in love with it. As a mom of a diabetic, I can relate to nearly every aspect. I do know that God is able to heal Turbo, but even if He chooses not to, He is still good, and I will praise Him!
Thy Will - I had the privilege of seeing Hillary Scott perform this live at the Business Boutique a couple of years ago. As wonderful as that was, it was the story behind this song that was so amazing. She and her husband had just miscarried their second baby, leaving them heartbroken and devastated. But they decided that they would simply trust that the Lord knew best and would surrender to His will.
Praise You In the Storm - I don't know about you, but when storms and hallways hit, my gut reaction isn't to praise the Lord or to be thankful. Most of the time, I dive for cover and just try to survive it. But this song is a great reminder that we need to glorify God no matter what - in the storm as well as in the calm.
More than Anything - Although the grammar nerd in me wants to change "anything" to "anything else," I desperately need the message of this song. I would give almost anything to see Jon or Turbo healed. But more than wanting the healing, I need to keep my eyes on the Healer first and foremost.
It Is Not Death to Die - Our church first introduced me to this song. Although we've not experienced any near-death situations yet, what a comfort that even if we do, we can still rejoice because of Christ's work on the cross!
Bow the Knee - There are going to be many, many situations in this life where we aren't going to know or fully understand why God allows the things He does. But we simply need to worship Him and thank Him that He knows what He's doing even though we can't always see why He's chosen to allow something.
10,000 Reasons - This song was a great encouragement to one of my dear friends who went through a series of difficult hallways. Sometimes, we need to set aside our devastating circumstances and focus on all the reasons we have to be joyful in Christ. Because no matter how hard our lives may be here on Earth, we as believers get to spend Eternity with Christ, where every tear will be wiped away and where we will live in the presence of the Savior forevermore!
Your turn: Tell me - what songs most minister to you when you're in a season of struggle?
