10 Songs That Give Me Hope

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo

Music is something that is even more therapeutic to me than writing. It has a way of saying everything I want to say--everything I never even knew I wanted to say. When my words fail, the words of other hurting souls are able to encompass what I am feeling. I hope these songs that captured my struggle can also capture one of yours. 

10. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Shane & Shane 

      Favorite lyrics: Here I raise my Ebenezer 
                               hither by thy help I'm come
                               and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
                               safely to arrive at home.
                               Jesus sought me when a stranger,
                               wandering from the fold of God;
                               he, to rescue me from danger,
                               interposed his precious blood.

"Samuel took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—”the stone of help”—for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” 
—1 Samuel 7:12, NLT

Sometimes I forget just how far I have come. On days when I am agitated by everything and I feel like recovery is a lost cause, I have to remember the stretch I have behind me. Ten months certainly isn't "nothing." I still have a long road ahead of me, and God is going to be with me through it all--Because I definitely can't do this on my own. 

9. Happy Girl - Martina McBride 
    Favorite lyrics: Everybody knows 
                              That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see 
                              In the whole wide world 
                              Is a happy girl 

"Happy girls are the prettiest girls" -Audrey Hepburn 

"Happy Girl" is a great song to keep in my back pocket. It's such a fun upbeat song that reminds me that happiness is, in fact, the key that unlocks a fulfilling life. It doesn't hurt that it is basically an Audrey Hepburn quote wrapped into a song. :)

8. You Found Me - The Fray

    Favorite lyrics: Where were you, when everything was falling apart?
                              All my days were spent by the telephone, 
                              That never rang, and all I needed was a call 
                              That never came 

"You Found Me" is a song that communicates heartbreak, loss, and questioning. When my bones were hurting and my joints were aching I was certain God wasn't by my side. Why would God let me live with chronic headaches and an abnormal heart rate? Why would he allow my college experience to be characterized by a fear of social situations? I felt as though He wasn't with me, because my heart was not in tune with His word. You can only hear what you listen for, and I was not listening for His presence. 

One of my favorite quotes is "When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember that the teacher is always silent during the test." He hadn't left me, but He was waiting for the moment when I would speak up and admit that I have no idea what I'm doing and need help.  

7. Something in the Water - Carrie Underwood
    Favorite lyrics: No way out, no one to come and save me 
                             Wasting the life that the good Lord gave me  // 

                             Then it hit me like lightning late one night 
                             I was all out of hope and all out of fight 
                             Couldn't fight back the tears, so I fell on my knees
                             Saying "God if you're there come and rescue me"
                             Felt love pouring down from above, 
                            Got washed in the water, washed in the blood  

Like every other Christian Country-Lover I adore this song... and the fact that it is played on a non-Christian radio station. 

The lyrics of "Something in the Water" perfectly that point of despair we have all felt. For me, it describes my personal rock bottom when I realized I could not sustain a healthy life with the choices I was making. The beauty of these lyrics, however, is that any struggle can be placed in between the lines and almost everyone can relate. We all need a little more Jesus in our lives and this song couldn't say it any better. 

6. Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns 
    Favorite lyrics: The voice of truth tells me a different story
                              The voice of truth says "do not be afraid."
                              The voice of truth says "this is for My glory."

On the way home from treatment (January 16) this song started playing on my spotify playlist. It was the end of my first week in MAP and it was the first time I could remember being truly happy in a long time. My homework for the weekend was to write a letter to my "future self" for days when recovery seemed impossible. 

It was when this song came on that God spoke to me. It was then that I realized only through sharing my story could I be set free...and I decided I would post it that weekend. I guess you could say that "The Voice of Truth" is the song that jump-started my blog. It made me realize that though there is a ton of backlash that could come of this--God has much more to say to me. His voice is louder than the ED voices. 

5. Beautiful Things - Gungor
    Favorite lyrics: You make beautiful things
                              you make beautiful things out of the dust  
                              you make beautiful things, 
                              you make beautiful things out of us 
                             You make me new, you are making me new

This is a song that has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it. Not only are the lyrics such a comfort to me, but it sounds so lovely. It is a song that I can go to when things are hectic and it has the ability to instantly soothe me. 

"Beautiful Things" reminds me that though it seems like I am damaged beyond repair...God created everything from nothing. My struggle is not too big for Him--He will turn my story into something beautiful for His glory. [Also... they definitely walked the same halls I do]

 4. Nobody Ever Told You - Carrie Underwood

   Favorite lyrics: All hung up on the negatives, doesn't have to be the way it is 
                             Nobody ever told you
                             You shine like a diamond, glitter like gold 
                            And you need to know what nobody ever told you 

I absolutely love Carrie Underwood. This song is definitely one song that is more blatant with its positive message. I generally do not like songs that are obvious in their self-esteem boosting tactics, but I'm a sucker for Carrie Underwood, and the message within this one is fantastic.

Even if it has to come from a song, I think we could all use a reminder that what a vain, materialistic society has deemed as "beautiful" doesn't become truth for everyone. Beauty is not something that can be determined by anyone outside of yourself. The day we all realize that will be the day we reclaim power to live our own lives.

3. Try - Colbie Caillat 

    Favorite lyrics: Take you makeup off

                              Let your hair down

                             Take a breath

                             Look into the mirror, at yourself

                             Do you like you? 

"Try" is nothing less than a positive self-esteem anthem! I bawled when I heard the song in its entirety and watched the music video for the first time. Its so simple, yet so powerful. It is just another example of how society doesn't get to tell us what beautiful is, that is something we must determine for ourselves. 

I do not struggle a great deal with external comparison (comparing looks)--but I am certainly a "people pleaser." I will drop everything to make someone else happy, even if I have sacrificed a piece of myself in the process. If someone else's problem has been solved, maybe they will have kind thoughts of me, maybe they will think of me as reliable or worthy. 

This song stopped those thoughts in their tracks. Other people don't actually matter that much. Whether or not I love myself and whether or not I deem my own actions acceptable slides in above how others percieve me. 

2. Unashamed - Starfield 

    Favorite lyrics: Still I come because your cross
                              Has placed in me my worth
                              
                              Because of grace, 
                              Because of your mercy 
                              I stand here unashamed 

I discovered "Unashamed" a few years ago while searching youtube, and it has been one (of many) of my favorite songs since. I have always felt an immense amount of pressure to be perfect, to always appear to be put together. This song combats those ideas, though. My worth does not come from whether or not I do everything perfectly (thank goodness!); my worth comes only from the cross.

The world says that I have every reason to be ashamed of who I am; I should be ashamed that I'm not flawless because that is unacceptable. The grace of God covers me, though. It says that I am enough. I am loved, and I am cherished by the King.

10. Timshel - Mumford & Sons 

     Favorite lyrics: You are not alone in this 

                               You are not alone in this

                               As brothers we will stand 

                               And we'll hold your hand 

This song gives me chills. The first time I heard it was in Chapel during the fall semester of my freshman year. I couldn't tell you what the service was about, I couldn't even tell you why the song was sung. All I remember about the service is that the entire student body held hands and sang the words "You are not alone in this." It was one of the most powerful experiences and I would be lying if I said I didn't cry.

It still chokes me up thinking about it nearly a year and a half later. It is an experience like that one that adds to the mile-long list of reasons why I love my school. We truly are together in our struggles and sharing my own has been no exception. My MVNU family has flooded my phone and inbox with words of hope, love, and encouragement and I could not be more grateful!

And because this wouldn't be a countdown list without Taylor swift... 

xoxo,
jkd