That afternoon, I sat at the kitchen table and wept.
In a season where everything in my life had changed in a short amount of time, I felt broken. The Enneagram 2 in me had been fighting a growing helplessness for a long time: in all the time I’d spent trying to take care of others, I wasn’t taking care of myself. I had emptied out my capacity and I was just…done.
Thankfully, worship songs help us.
The Worship Song That Helped Me
But what made me cry that day in 2019 wasn’t just the crushing weight of my exhaustion. I’d been listening to a song all day that I couldn’t get out of my head.
“With all my heart, I love you Lord
You’re my first love, you’re my reward
And through the years, you’ve been good to me
So good to me, so good to me”
I hadn’t treated Jesus like my first love or my reward. I’d been looking for those things in other people and places. Did I really love him with all my heart?
I wept because I wasn’t sure if the words of that chorus were true of me, and I deeply wanted them to be. I’d gotten to the end of myself.
And in grace and faithfulness, God met me there that day.
3 Ways Worship Songs Help Bring You Closer to God
There is a lot of mention of worship in Scripture: whether it is the command to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” (Psalm 100:1) or to “[make] melody to the Lord with your heart” (Eph. 5:19).
God is serious about worship. Here are three ways worship songs help us.
1. Worship Songs Help Us Remember
I have grown in my appreciation for songwriting over the years. It truly is an art, a complicated one.
In any given song, you might find upwards of 4-5 different writers who are credited. This is because every word is important.
From an early age, songs are used to help us with memory (ABCs, anyone?). Our brains are wired for it, which is why ad jingles from our childhood pop into our minds randomly.
We can rarely recall information that is spoken in a monotone voice with no rhythm (College lectures, anyone? Okay, I digress).
What better way to be reminded of truth than through melody and repetition?
2. Worship Songs Help Us In Our Faith
Throughout the Scriptures, God draws our attention to our need for faith (and most times our lack thereof).
He wants us to rely on him for everything we need instead of trusting in our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).
Sometimes singing a song to God is the biggest faith step we can take as believers. It requires us to profess with our mouths what doesn’t seem real to our eyes.
“It is well with my soul” has a different impact if you’ve ever had to fight with your flesh to believe that statement is true.
3. Worship Songs Help Us Have Hope
Jesus did not ever promise that we wouldn’t suffer. In fact, his very life on this earth proved the exact opposite.
There are, have been, and will be times when we need something (Someone) to cling to in the midst of trying seasons.
The Apostle Paul prays for Christians, saying: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13).
- Joy and peace are fruits that can only be produced by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
- The Spirit is the only way we can see Christ as our true hope
- And abiding in Him is the only way we “abound” in hope!
Singing songs of worship to God sets our focus and can be a tool used by the Spirit to set our hearts on Jesus.
Do You Need Worship Songs To Help You?
Are you weary or burdened? Stressed or discouraged? Excited or hopeful? No matter the circumstances, we all need a song on our hearts.
I’d encourage you to take some time to worship today. He’s ready to meet you wherever you are.
About the Author
Candace Jones currently serves as Worship Arts Ministry Assistant at College Park Church in Indianapolis. She is passionate about equipping and empowering teams to do work they love. As a Birmingham, Alabama native she is also passionate about sweet tea, warm weather, and SEC football (Roll Tide!).
