What hymns do you sing when you're feeling sad?

[steve]

Thought I'd pose this question for everyone to talk about.

What hymns or praise songs do you sing when you're feeling down, afraid, sad, lonely? When all hope is gone?

To be honest, the main reason I'm asking it is that I'm going through some challenging things in my life these days (I just got laid off from my "day job"). The last time this happened to me (two years ago) I fell into a really bad state emotionally and mentally, and I'm determined not to let that happen again.

The one thing I've always known is that music, in particular sacred music, has power. When an evil spirit would torment Saul, David's harp would cause the evil spirits to flee. I've found that singing secular music can help me temporarily forget my sadness or pain but doesn't really have lasting effects. On the other hand, belting out a favorite hymn—sometimes through flowing tears and bawling—can be powerful.

I know a lot of others out there are going through trouble too, so I wanted to start this thread. I'll share a few that come to my mind, but I'd love to hear from you, especially if a particular hymn has made a big impact in your life at your lowest points. If you're so inclined, it'd be great if you could share not just the title of the hymn, but a few lyrics that have been especially meaningful to you, and any person stories you might be able to share that might help lift others going through tough times.

I'll get the ball rolling with my top 10 (5 hymns and 5 contemporary Christian songs) that I'm singing these days to help me deal with troubled times.

Hymns

5 - It Is Well With My Soul. They say that some of the most powerful art is created by humans who have gone through the most terrible pain. If you haven't already, read the story of how the lyrics of this hymn came together (and while you're at it, read the two "lost" stanzas that most hymnals omit). Horatio Spafford had endured tragedy literally of Job-like proportions, and yet out of his pain he wrote these words. It's one of those hymns that is hard to "believe" when you're in the middle of something terrible and Satan is "buffeting". But sing it anyway.

4 - Because He Lives. One of the dirtiest tricks that Satan pulls when you're gong through difficulty is to isolate you and try to convince you that you're all alone. That nobody cares about you, and that God doesn't care. Or maybe the father of lies will even try to convince you that God doesn't even exist. It's a trap, of course. It's his way of devouring people—by separating them from God and then destroying them. There have been a number of times this hymn has helped pull me out when I felt like I couldn't face tomorrow or worried about how my little girl whose so innocent and filled with joy today will face the trials of the world coming her way. But Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.

3 - Nearer My God to Thee. Growing up I never really appreciated this hymn. It was "boring" and I preferred the ones with peppier, upbeat tempos. It really wasn't until I dug deep into the meaning of the lyrics—and started to encounter my own "stony griefs" in life—that I really started to appreciate it, and now it's a go-to whenever I've been knocked down and find myself needing to pick up the pieces and move on.

2 - Precious Lord, Take My Hand. This is one of those songs that was once considered more contemporary, but has since taken on the status of being a classic hymn. It was written by Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the "Father of Gospel Music" whose influence on gospel music (and in turn, virtually all Christian and secular music you hear today) is immeasurable. It's been covered by countless singers from Mahalia Jackson to Randy Travis, but my favorite rendition to listen to when I'm down is Elvis Presley's. Grab a copy of the lyrics and sing along when you're feeling helpless.

1 - His Eye is on the Sparrow. As with many others, this is one of my top go-tos when I feel depression knocking at the door. It's one of those hymns I sing when I'm just too tired to think anymore and too tired to pray. There have been many times I've been at my lowest mental state, and just forced myself to sing these lyrics, even if I'm not "feeling" the words at the moment emotionally (especially the line "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free). I know rationally and spiritually that these words are true, and I know that whatever emotions I'm feeling at the time are just fiction that either my own brain or Satan or a combination of both are using to bring me down. And even at the darkest time I try my best to cling on to the powerful truth of the words "I know He watches me".

Praise and Worship songs

When I'm listening to music I tend to split my time between hymns and Praise and Worship music (my go-to streaming services are Pandora and Amazon Music).

I know contemporary praise and worship music isn't for everyone, but there are a few that always seem to

5 - In the Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson - While I listen mostly to hymns on Pandora and Spotify, sometimes I'll pull up a praise and worship station. Every time this one pops up I feel like belting it out. Aside from having a catchy tune, the lyrics really capture what I'm feeling when I fall into the pits of despair...the ground crumbling beneath my feet, my sails torn to shreds in the storm on the sea. It's easy to forget during those times that God remains in control, but singing this (sometimes over and over) can help remind me.

4 - Way Maker by Leeland - This one is another great one with a catchy, upbeat tempo and lyrics that are perfect if you're feeling stuck with no way out.

3 - 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman - This one is also called "Praise the Lord O My Soul". As with many of the best CCM songs, the lyrics are not merely superficial fluff but "sneak in" a lot of powerful scriptural truths (Psalm 103:1-5, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 96:4, Revelation 5:12-13, Psalm 145:3).

2 - Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) - What I love about this song is that Chris Tomlin starts out with the exact words and music to "Amazing Grace" which then smoothly transitions into a contemporary adaptation beginning with "My Chains are Gone". There is, of course, tremendous power in John Newton's original lyrics from 1772 (read Newton's story if you're not familiar with it), but this updates it to the modern age without losing any of its old-time "power".

1 - God Will Make a Way by Don Moen - Another good one to belt out when you feel at the end of your rope and that everything is dark ahead.

There are of course hundreds more, but these are the ones that really resonate with me these days as I go through yet another set of storms.

What hymns mean the most to you in your darkest moments?

[tab2010]

I can think of several songs:

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” sung by Mahalia Jackson
“Somebody Bigger Than You and I” by Andy Griffith or Elvis Presley
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Aretha Franklin or Mahalia Jackson
“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Rosie Rozell and The Searchers
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Aretha Franklin
“My God is There” by Rosie Rozell and The Searchers
“We’ll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials” by The Clara Ward Singers or The Happy Goodmans

These songs have helped me through many hard times. Whenever I sing or listen to these songs I’m reminded that no matter how I feel, God is with me and will help me carry my burdens.

[steve]

That's a great list! Thanks tab2010!

[tab2010]

I’ve got three more songs to add: Touch Me One More Time, I’ve Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken, and In The Valley, all by Nancy Harmon and The Victory Voices. My great grandfather passed away recently and I’ve been listening to these songs a lot.

Touch Me One More Time
https://youtu.be/1sZROn-tDkI?si=1ich6S7Mqp_Qx0Jx

I can’t find the other two on YouTube. But if you see this Steve, would you be able to upload the song files to this thread, if I send them to you? As well as I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Rosie Rozell and The Searchers?

[steve]

Hi tab2010,

Thanks so much for sharing!

By all means, please send me the files and I can try to upload them to this thread!

God bless,
Steve

[tab2010]

Thank you so much! I just emailed them to you.

[steve]

Hi tab2010,

Thanks so much for sending them. I've just uploaded them here.

Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken
download/Never%20Seen%20The%20Righteous%20Forsaken.mp3

In The Valley
download/In%20The%20Valley.mp3

Touch Me One More Time
download/Touch%20Me%20One%20More%20Time.mp3

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
download/I%20Know%20Who%20Holds%20Tomorrow.mp3

I actually didn't see your comment about your great grandfather. I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but I am as thrilled as I know your great grandfather is at seeing his great grandchild continuing to keep the faith and share hope with others. If you have any "back stories" about these tracks and what they mean to you, I'd love to hear them!

I just "sang along" with I Don't Know About Tomorrow". I've been going through some uncertainty in my life lately myself, so it helped me a lot. God is good, and I do know He is holding my hand. Thanks for the reminder

God bless,
Steve