For the Soul That Has Lost Its Song

Soul, you appear devastated, distraught, utterly hopeless. The pain and turbulence of life has left you riddled with wounds. Soul, do you remember how you used to join the songs of God with the people of God? Do you remember the loud shouts of praise that would explode from the overflow of your heart?

What now? Circumstances have shut you up. Pain has muted your song. Trial has snuffed out your melodies. When did the Maker’s praise become subject to your circumstances? Should your feelings dictate your capacity for praise?

But God…as a loving song-writer and melody maker Himself, doesn’t hold it over you. No. On the contrary, in your deepest pit of disbelief–in your darkest cave of doubt–in your most barren wilderness of wandering–God does the one thing you need most. He does it in your place. He does it on your behalf. He does it FOR you. What is that one thing, you ask?

He sings. He sings over you. He expresses a melody so rich the angels in heaven stand in awe, speechless like an amateur musician in the presence of a Mozart or a Bach. They gather around the singing King of the universe. At night, in the darkness, in the near-tangible thickness of despair, God sings.

Can you hear the song my soul? Can you tune out the deafening white noise of your hopelessness just for a second and hear the rapturous, earth-shaking melody of El Hayyah, God of my life? Can you yet hope in Him? One day you will sing again. One day hope will reignite the God-fuel laden within your bones. One day you will find your mouth beginning to open again and your lips filling with faith as you yet again proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his glorious light.

But, my soul, until that day hear Him singing over you. Feel the song of God embracing you in your hopelessness as you lay your head on tear-soaked sheets. Can you hear him? He’s always singing, and He’ll stand in your position in God’s choir-army until hope brings you back.

“Why are you cast down, o my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” – Ps. 42:5

“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me; a prayer to the God of my life.” – Ps 42:8

“The Lord your God is with you,

  the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

  in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

  but will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zeph. 3:17