Recently, I’ve received some heart-breaking DMs and texts and emails from you all. Many of you are hurting, so much. Which is understandable. Chronic illness is not easy. But many of you are facing unimaginable trials and struggles on top of it all.
So today, I was crying as I prayed for you. I love my readers and I hate that so many of you are suffering so deeply. I wish so badly that I could make it all go away. I know God has a plan in it and that all things work together for the good of those who love God, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
So today, I don’t have a lot of words to offer. My heart is hurting for you, and I just want to come over and offer brownies and a hug. Today, I’m weeping with you as you grieve and question and fear and struggle.
And today, I want to share six songs that have helped me in the worst times of grief and pain when most words felt meaningless. Please know, you are not alone, and you are loved deeply by a Love so much better than anything on earth.
Hang in there.
This song by Jason Gray helps me because it reminds me that it’s okay to not be okay. It tells of how things will be okay — someday and somehow. But not right now.
This song is one I think a lot of chronically ill people might relate to, because chronic illness often really is a death without a funeral. It’s the death of a previous life. Death of innocence and freedom and sometimes relationships. But grieving is still neccesary.
Oh My Soul was a song I listened to on repeat when I was at some of my worst moments. It speaks of the private wrestling we have to do . . . but reminds us of how we aren’t alone.
Weep With Me by Rend Collective has been a song of lament that has comforted me. It reminds me that God sees and understands my pain and that He is with me in the hurting.
Hold Her by For King & Country is a song for the person watching someone walk through pain — it’s not easy for you either. For me, it’s been a prayer I’ve prayed as I have had to watch friends and family suffer without being able to be there with them.
Yeah, there are quite a few Jason Gray songs in this list. But I came accross an album in particular when I was doing some of my heavist grieving, and it spoke to so much of what I was feeling and going through. This song encourages you that it’s okay to be angery and have other ugly emotions — which in my experience, can be a big part of grief. Yet Jesus was angry to — we’re in good company.
Thank you for your sweet and caring heart, Sara. Praying for you too as you reach out to the hurting and allow Jesus to carry them for you. <3
"Oh My Soul" is my favorite. It's one of those songs that has been there for me in the hardest moments, in so many areas.
A few more I love when I need songs like this is "Before the Morning" by Josh Wilson, "There Will Be a Day" by Jeremy Camp, "Safe" by Phil Wickham, "Come as You Are" by Crowder, "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns, "He Knows" by Jeremy Camp, "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again" by Danny Gokey, "Blessings" by Laura Story, and "I Have This Hope" by Tenth Avenue North.
Okay, that was more than a few, but there they are! 🙂 One more that's my favorite for the long season I'm in with my illness: "You Redeem" by Aaron Shust.
Needed this today. 🙂 Thank you! <3 <3
Sara,
This is awesome! You are so caring and kind and it really shows through all of your posts. God truly taught you through chronic illness and you want others to learn that they can lean on God through their illnesses. <3 Thank you!
These songs are all wonderful. I've heard "O My Soul" before and love that song!
Thanks again,
Anna
Aw, thank you so much! I don’t know what to say. But God is pretty amazing. 🙂 Aw fun! Oh My Soul is one of my favorites. I once wrote a short story about it — it was one of the most vulnerable things I’ve ever written.