Singing Through Suffering

We are living in unprecedented times in this world and church congregations are scattered and unable to meet as a gathered fellowship of believers.

Although today’s technology enables us to keep in touch and encourage one another, one of the things that we all still surely miss from our gathered times is singing together. After all, it's a hard thing to replicate in your living room! We suddenly realise just how much we are blessed and encouraged by hearing one another proclaim truths to each other as we worship God.

God’s people have always been a singing people, even in the face of adversity. Many of the psalms contain songs of lament and encouragement through the trials of life. If God’s people back then could sing, whilst enemies surrounded them and hardships befell, then we too must find our voice during this season which we find ourselves in.

I’d like to share a couple of songs which we have used here at Cornerstone Church, Nottingham, which seem particularly appropriate for the current circumstances our country faces.

We Have an Anchor

The first is a re-working of the wonderful old hymn We Have an Anchor, with its rousing and familiar chorus:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain
Will your anchor drift or firm remain

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love

Never has that opening verse, combined with the certain hope of the resounding chorus, been more needed than now!

It’s full of wonderful truths to rouse the spirit and reassure the heart of any believer.

A Day Will Dawn

The other song which we have used is A Day Will Dawn. Originally intended to be a reflective solo song, we soon found that many people in the congregation wanted to sing along. And it does work as a congregational hymn.

This song was written shortly after the Grenfell Tower disaster. Such disasters can cause questions to arise, even amongst believers, about the sovereignty and goodness of God.

But throughout scripture, we see that even God’s people were never immune to suffering. Indeed, many of the New Testament believers were exposed to great hardships, trails and persecutions. However, the thing that kept them pressing on was the absolute certainty that Christ would return and that God would usher in the new heavens and the new earth.

It is there, and not here, that our suffering will be eradicated and every tear wiped away. It is that one unshakable truth, that enabled God’s people back then and our people right now, to be able to sing through their suffering.

God you are my God I need not fear
When the evil day draws close to me
You are closer still
In the day of trouble be my shield
Refuge for my soul when hope is gone
You will dry each tear

A day will dawn like morning sun
When Christ shall pierce the greatest darkness
In this world
When glory breaks upon that day
My heart is healed from every wound this
Earth has made
When Christ shall come

Singing Through Suffering

You might like to use links to these songs if you are planning an online service and it fits with your sermon. Or you may just like to send them in an email or messaging app to encourage people in your congregations who remain in social isolation.

If you are looking for a raft of other songs to use in this season, Bob Kauflin has gathered together an excellent crop of songs to fuel and sustain God’s people through these days.

Let’s keep in prayer, in praise, and in the scriptures, as we navigate our way through this storm looking ever unto Jesus.