I’m sure I’m not the only one who, during certain times and seasons of life, has a certain song, or a set of songs on repeat. Next to smell, I believe sound would be one of the strongest senses to recall memories. Just hearing the first couple of notes is enough to take me right back to my childhood. “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac takes me back Lawton, Oklahoma as my parents were divorcing when I was five years old. “Brown Eyed Girl” reminds me of being in middle school with stacks of records scattered across the living room floor–so does Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “You Aint Seen Nothing Yet.” “Take It On The Run” by REO Speedwagon drags me right back into 7th grade Middle School with braces and feathered bangs. The Beach Boys were my first concert and Hank Williams Jr. my wildest. Creedence Clearwater Revival reminds me of my first car, a 1972 Mustang. Wild Thing by Tone Loc, Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer, and Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice remind me of High School {{shudder}} Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, and George Strait will forever remind me of my High School friend Melissa. John Denver reminds me of skiing as a kid, and although I used to hate–with a literal make my stomach hurt passion–Sunshine on My Shoulders, it is now one of my all time favorite songs. Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again” takes me back to my first apartment at 18–unfurnished because I could barely afford the rent much less anything else. Garth Brooks was always on the radio in my early married years, unless Chris controlled the radio and then it was Classic Rock. “Sister Golden Hair” was the first thing that popped into my mind when the nurse handed me my first born. And in the last year, there is no substitute for my Anna playing “Oceans” on the piano tucked into our laundry room. Maybe you can tell by my musical memory, my tastes are as varied as my emotions.
My musical tastes have settled down quite a bit from my early years, unless of course I’m having a “run to the grocery store, windows down, music up, clear my head” kind of day–Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan take care of those days. But right now? Right now I’m in a season of three songs in particular on repeat: Born for This by Mandisa, It is Well with My Soul by Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music, and Even If by Mercy Me. I liked how the three of them wove together for the title of this post.
Born for This
First and foremost, I was born for this. This life that I’m blessed to do every single day. This life that wears me out with late teen to young adult…late toddler to early teen spread. There is only so much of me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and I wonder many nights which child or group of children got passed over during the day in one way or another. I fret about my parenting and the eventual consequences my mistakes or ignorance will have. And every once in a while, I’m quiet enough to hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “He chose you for them and them for you.” And then my marriage. Keeping Chris ahead of a pack of noisy, active, and busy children is just plain hard. And the Spirit reminds me again, “He chose the two of you for each other, to life this life together.” I was, surprisingly, born for this. I was born to mother a large family with my husband of 25 years even though I’m from a small family littered with generations of divorce. “Sometimes you gotta stand apart from the crowd” and stand apart I do.
It is Well with My Soul
And in standing apart from the crowd, on the other side of the proverbial line drawn in the sand, I remind myself, “It is Well with My Soul.” I fall back on the Scripture asking what can man do to me? Disapprove of me? Leave a nasty comment on my blog? Send an ugly email? Not invite me to a function? Ignore me? My Choleric temperament, dependence on my husband, and introverted nature, for the most part, allow me to respond, “Meh.” The melancholic temperament can cause me step farther back into myself and vow, “Never again.” But more often than not though it’s not man from the outside but man from the inside I must contend with. I have learned to respond to myself with daily affirmations, scripture affirmations, and the reminder, “It is Well with My Soul.” I need this reminder because otherwise, I let my feelings yank my emotional chain instead of being led by the Holy Spirit–the Couselor and Comforter. And for those times when I can’t hear the whispers of the Spirit?
Even If
That brings me to the song, “Even If.” This song y’all…these lyrics
“They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I’m losing bad
I’ve stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can’tIt’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right nowI know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You aloneThey say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul”
I relate to the words, “But even” as a mother. How often have I consoled my children with similar words or even the exact words? From something as simple as, “But even if we don’t go swimming tonight, we will…there is…you can…” I present them with alternative options that are sometimes better than the option that lies before “But even…” And that is God. “But even…” is the Father’s all providing love.
So tell me in the comments, what songs are soothing your soul right now? And if you enjoyed this post, please use the share buttons below to let your friends know. Thank you.
Julie says
Jenny,
Thank you for putting these songs on your page. I listened to all of them and loved each one.
One of my favorite songs is “Give Me Jesus”. I love when Fernando Ortega sings it.
Have a blessed day and thank you for sharing with us.
Jenny says
Give me Jesus is one of my favorites!
Nikki says
He Will by Ellie Holcomb, Stand in Awe by Phil Wickham. Even If and Praise You in The Storm were my touchstone for a season, I still love them.
Jenny says
I went through an Ellie Holcomb season a couple of years ago and of course Praise You in This Storm is a good reminder all the time.
Monica says
I’m left almost completely speechless by this post today. Its so funny to me when God reaches out and says “HEY!! This one is for you, read it!!” Not a stern demand but an attention-getting holler (yeah I’m from the south lol). I find such a connection to music that when I find someone who truly gets it, as you so obviously do, my heart just kind of says, awwww, this one could be a soul friend. I’m not quite as gifted as you in the words department but your assessment of these songs and how they can touch our lives is sooo spot-on!! As far as that tiny word “in”, I won’t pretend to be an expert but here’s my take: “my hope is IN you”, to me, seems to indicate a part versus, “my hope IS you” means a wholeness. Also, IN you is a choice, as, I have chosen to put my hope IN you, but IS you, speaks more to there being no other choice even if we wanted one. Like a force of nature, it just IS. My hope IS you LORD, there is nothing and no one else that could possibly work. Thank you for speaking my heart, not just TO my heart.
Jenny says
a part verse wholeness…yes!
And honestly, I loved everything about your comment, especially–“this one could be a soul friend.” How very Ann of Green Gables(ish).
Misty says
Yes – some of these songs also bring me back to specific times – like the Whitesnake concert I went to with my boyfriend in college. I had forgotten about that ha! That version of It Is Well is one of the best and I sometimes listen to it on repeat when I go walking in the evenings. So soothing and peaceful. Love this post!
Jenny says
I love the part where she sings, “Through it all my eyes are on You.”
Heather says
Thy Will by Hillary Scott. It reminds me of God’s larger plan even when I am not aware of it. So often I am frustrated when things do not go the way I think they should. I listen to this song and remind myself of God’s perfect timing and how he always knows what is best for me.
Heather
Jenny says
That is a beautiful song with an eternal reminder–good choice.
Cecilia Buckner says
Hi Jenny!
I love this piece. All of the songs you named were some of my favorites too! Funny–when I listened to those songs I was no where near God spiritually. Now–my soothing sounds come from Gregoriian Chant.
It is by His grace alone that we walk along the path he takes us.
Jenny says
Gregorian Chant! Of course. I accidentally left it off my list. Gregorian Chant defined my late 20’s and early 30’s. I was in a season of intense growth and knowledge of my faith and also wrestling with my past sins. I found so much solace in chant. Those years were also my early years of motherhood and chant brought a sense of calm to the chaotic feelings of the sleep deprived mom life.