Jason Silver

Friday, June 28th, 2019

Sad Songs Say So Much?

I asked my wife, Joanne today, "Do you have any ideas for a blog to write to go with this week's Psalm?"

After she listened through it, she said, "You know, you and I are drawn more to the melancholy, sad songs. We like the worship that pulls us up from despair when we feel hopeless. We sing out with songs like, 'I am a sinner, if it's not one thing, it's another.' But when I hear this kind of exuberant praise song with bouncy music, I have a hard time relating to it."

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. I was thinking, "Okay, that's no help."

But then she continued, "This is exactly the kind of song we need to sing, even if we don't feel it! God deserves our praise!"

As always, Joanne nailed it. It's so true. A few weeks ago we realized that nearly all of the worship songs in our congregation's repertoire were slow. We decided to set a goal to change that, and to start introducing songs which worship our God in a celebratory way!

Even if we don't feel like singing, and even if we're in a difficult period of time, God is no less deserving. And many times, when we go through the motions of praise and celebration, we take command of a downcast attitude and find our feelings following our lead!

Not just that, but It's good for us to look for things to be thankful for. It's good for us to develop a discipline of praise, and to remember that God is always bigger than our problems.

None of this is simple, it's certainly not easy. I'm still on a journey myself, but I know where I'm headed! I'm getting my eyes off myself, I'm looking up at the beauty of this world, I'm finding things to be thankful for!

Want to join me?