I had a friend say recently, “Life sucks so bad.” He wasn’t speaking necessarily about his own life but about life in general. Sometimes I have to agree.
Life is hard. Life is painful. The obstacles seem big – too big. Our faith seems small – sometimes too small. We seem to make some progress and then we get knocked back again. Sometimes we feel as though we take one step forward and twelve steps back. The Bible says a righteous man falls seven times, but sometimes we fall so often that the ground looks too familiar and it seems more reasonable to stay down than to get up just to fall again.
The health won’t improve. The bank account is still in overdraft. The money is not there. The friends have proven faulty. Situations don’t seem to be getting better. You are stuck. You are frustrated. You see no possible solution to your problems. It hurts yesterday, it hurts today, and you (think you) have reason to believe that it will hurt tomorrow.
In reality, there is no reason to be discouraged or stressed because we have the Word of God with us to encourage us, but sometimes you need a Word of the Lord through song. Sometimes you need a song to remind you about the God you serve and His ability, faithfulness and power to bring you through what you are going through. Sometimes you need musical encouragement.
These are the songs I turn to when I am discouraged. These are the songs I listen to when I’m going through whatever — discouragement, depression, doubt, anxiety… They span a variety of sub-genres (contemporary Gospel, southern Gospel etc), artists and decades, and I hope they bless you as they have blessed me. It’s not about the musicality per se – it’s about the lyrics.
There are no hymns here, but hymns also have encouraged me throughout my life. Don’t neglect your hymnal!
Sovereign God – Maurette Brown Clark
It Ain’t Over – Maurette Brown Clark
He’s Able – Voices of Unity ft. Darwin Hobbs
Tears are the Language – Heritage Singers
In His Time – Maranatha Singers (I grew up on this group)
He’ll Do it Again — Shirley Caesar (I also like this cover by Tiffany Campbell-Dailey)
Road is Rough — Sandra Brooks (my mom would sing this song all the time growing up…)
Four Days Late – Karen Peck (there are many other people who have covered this song, like Tiffany Campbell-Dailey)
God on the Mountain – Lynda Randle (another one of my mother’s fav songs)
The End of the Way – Lynda Randle
Give Them All to Jesus – Candy Christmas
Pray On – Babbie Mason
DeWayne’s Testimony and God Still Heals– DeWayne Woods
Let Go – DeWayne Woods
I Won’t Be Afraid – DeWayne Woods
Seasons – Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers ft Walter Hawkins
Encourage Yourself – Donald Lawrence
Strong Enough — Stacie Orrico
I Get On My Knees — Jaci Velasquez
I Know Too Much About Him – Smokie Norful
I Need You Now – Smokie Norful
I Will Get There – Boyz II Men (there’s also an a capella version)
Moving Forward – Israel Houghton, or Joanne Rosario Condrey and Cory “Coco Brother” Condrey (on the STAND album), or Jessica Ready (Israel does my fav cover, and actually, this is one of my favourite Gospel songs of all time)
Put it On the Altar – Jessica Ready
Every Prayer – Israel Houghton and Mary Mary
Prayers of the Righteous — Israel and New Breed
You are Not Forgotten – Israel and New Breed (feat. Jonny Lang)
Press On – Selah
Part the Waters/I Need Thee Every Hour — Selah
You are My Hiding Place – Selah
Be Still My Soul – Selah
It’s Already There – Jonathan Butler
When We Pray – Jonathan Butler
No Matter What – Jonathan Butler
Silence – Anthony Evans
Trust in Me Now – Anthony Evans
Still – Hillsong or Descanserei (with Portuguese subtitles or English subtitles) by Jotta A (this child has some serious pipes!)
I Will Trust – Fred Hammond
They That Wait – Fred Hammond ft. John P. Kee
All Things are Working – Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ
Trusting God – Deitrick Haddon
Stand Still – Deitrick Haddon and Donnie McClurkin
Stand – Donnie McClurkin (it is said that this is one of Oprah’s favourite Gospel songs)
The Battle is Not Yours – Yolanda Adams
Never Give Up – Yolanda Adams
This Too Shall Pass – Yolanda Adams or duet with Yolanda Adams and Crystal Lewis
I Must Tell Jesus – Crystal Lewis
Free – Kirk Franklin
My Life is in Your Hands – Kirk Franklin
He’s Still in Control – Kirk Franklin
He Will Supply – Kirk Franklin
Take Me To the King – Tamela Mann
Rachel’s Song (feat. John Stoddart) – Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. (this song is not included in the playlist above)
I Can Do This – Duawne Starling (this song is not included in the playlist above)
He’s Been Faithful — Vicki Yo’he or Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
He’s Always Been Faithful (Great is Thy Faithfulness) – Sara Groves
Keep Me in Your Will – Jessica King