We’re only a few posts in, but I felt like doing something a little different for Mental Health Monday!
I’ve accumulated a list of songs over the years that make me feel some type of way. They mostly have an encouraging message or have relatable lyrics. Most of the songs are ones I heard on my favorite radio station, K-LOVE, or are by an artist who has played on K-LOVE. There’s an outlier but it’s relatable and feels important.
K-LOVE is a Christian music radio station. I love it because it has limited commercials and I can count on there being an abundance of music when I’m on longer road trips. The radio station hosts have also been entertaining over the years I’ve been listening. I think I’ve stuck to this station because of their motto. The phrase “Positive, encouraging, K-LOVE” is echoed throughout their station during the day. I need the positivity and the encouraging music to get me through my days. It’s also a safe station if you have young kiddos in the car and you don’t want to have to worry about what they hear.
While nine of the songs are by primarily Christian artists, I am not sharing this to try and sway anyone towards any sort of belief. When we’re discussing mental health, we need to acknowledge what helps us. These are the songs that help me get through each day. I can only imagine how many other songs are out there without a religious context that help others.
Music holds so much power and it’s an important aspect of one’s mental health journey.
So, here are 10 songs that have impacted my mental health in some way.
1. I Will Fear No More by The Afters
The lyrics to this song note struggles someone may experience. It then moves into trusting God and as the title suggests, fearing no more. Trusting God is difficult when you’re in the middle of a battle with any number of factors trying to tear you down. My favorite lyric is “You are greater than the battle raging in my mind.” God knows we have internal battles but He’s hoping we realize we’re not facing them alone. I try to remember my mind is not always kind, but God loves me anyways.
2. Rescue by Lauren Daigle
As a human, you are likely to have days where you feel lost. You feel absolutely broken and are holding on by a thin string to this life. I heard most of these songs for the first time on the radio, but this one caught me in one of those hard times. I immediately burst into tears in the middle of the song. Shortly after, I decided to start visiting a church I liked, and their worship team sang this song the first day back after many months not going. I sat by myself towards the back, so no one saw the tears sliding down my face. This song is a reminder that no matter how broken you feel, God is there with you, He will find you in your darkest times, and He will “rescue” you.
3. The Motions by Matthew West
This one time at band camp… No, for real. My most vivid memory of this song is from my time in marching band. I knew of the song before then, but my band director used this song as a motivational tool, and I’ve always appreciated the lesson. For marching band purposes, the lesson was to practice with intention to improve our likelihood of a successful performance. The song’s purpose seems to be for us not to simply go about our day just “going through the motions.” We need to live with intention and build a purposeful relationship with God. This song has influenced me on days where I am sick of the day-to-day monotony and try to be more mindful of my choices.
4. Fear is a Liar by Zach Williams
I need to quote a bit of the lyrics for this one. “When he told you you’re not good enough… not right… not strong enough… not worthy… not loved…not beautiful… that you’ll never be enough. Fear, he is a liar.” How many times have you felt like you’re not good enough or any of the others mentioned? Probably more than you recall or would like to admit. I don’t have to explain this one too much. We need to remember that “fear is a liar” and God created all of us for a reason and we are so much more than our own minds and society will often lead us to believe.
5. The Breakup Song by Francesca Battistelli
My memory is not the best, but I recall hearing this one before Zach Williams’ song (number 4 on this list). It’s another song that speaks to the burden of fear. This song is an anthem telling fear that it will not hold power anymore. My favorite lyric is “fear, you don’t own me.” There have been so many moments in my life that I gave into fear and didn’t do something that I wanted to do. There have been many times I have dimmed my light out of fear of how I would be perceived. I constantly struggle with this battle, but I am reminded of this song anytime the thoughts start overwhelming me.
6. Almost Home by Mercy Me
No one really knows what will come of us after we leave this earth. We are often so burdened by the stress of this life that we forget God promises an eternal life with Him. There are days where I scoff at the thought of this being true and days where I’m begging with every aspect of my being that it is. Either way, this song speaks to us not being on this earth permanently and our struggles are only temporary. Whether it takes a few days or a struggle that will last until we leave this earth, our struggles are temporary, and this song helps me remember this and try not to dwell on the stress.
7. Truth Be Told by Matthew West
I believe this song has had the most profound impact on my mental health. The opening lyric needs to be shared: “Lie number one: You’re supposed to have it all together.” YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. This song shares that exact sentiment. This song’s purpose, at least what I’m interpreting from it, is to encourage people not to feel scared to share their struggles. We should not be expected to be perfect, and we shouldn’t have to fake as if we are. I also love that this song comments on the church. The church should be welcoming to everyone, and no one should feel judged when they walk in a church’s doors.
8. Brighter Days by Blessing Offor
This is my current jam. It somehow always comes on in the morning after I’ve dropped my son off at daycare and I am feeling crazy from all his morning shenanigans. If it doesn’t come on the radio when I’m in the car, then at some point in the day I’m likely to play the song myself. I am clinging to the hope that there are going to be brighter days. I am in a moment of dreading the fact that my life seems at a standstill. I question why loneliness is a constant state of being and if anything will ever change. I am constantly quoting, “I know there’s gonna be some brighter days.” I am working to trust God and His plan, pray for brighter days, and still thrive in the darker days. The interesting aspect of this song is it could be played on any station. It’s an encouraging message even if you do not have a belief in God. We all need to know that we’ll likely see brighter days.
9. Wounds by Jordan Feliz
I bought Jordan’s album Say It because of the song “Next to Me.” However, “Wounds” was the song that had me feeling all the feels. I’m not certain if it was a personal testament to his experience but the song feels personal. I loved the song because of the personal feel. It seemed to say to me, “I know how it feels to be in a dark place but there is hope and God heals all wounds.” When someone understands our experience, it can help us get through our battles. I appreciate the lyric, “I’ve seen the light come in… to my darkest rooms.” No matter how dark it feels in our life, we are worthy of light and God will meet us where we are.
10. Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold
I saved this one for last because it’s different. I didn’t hear this song on K-LOVE, and I doubt it would be approved for their station. There is no religious basis behind it that I’m aware of. This song captured some of my darker thoughts and explained a bit about how I feel on a day-to-day basis. “Do you ever get a little bit tired of life… like you’re not really happy but you don’t want to die…” This lyric is honestly how I feel more days than I’d like to admit. This song doesn’t try to fix anything but sits in its emotions. This is why I love it. Some days I need to just sit in my feelings and not try to fix myself. Then, I’ll turn to some of my other songs on this list and try to push through and search for the joy again.
BONUS SONG
I have a bonus song for you. My mom would sing a short song to us growing up. She would use this anytime we were struggling with something that took a long time, basically anytime we were being impatient. It became a joke and eventually we started singing it at her when we were older and caught on to its multiple uses. I have since taught it to my son and a few of my kiddos I work with. My son typically rolls his eyes and begs me not to sing it when I am requesting his patience. I am also singing this to myself often to try and reel in my own impatience with life and people who may be frustrating. I have no clue where the song came from or if it’s a small part of a larger song. If you’ve heard it, please share its history!
“Have patience.
Have patience.
Don’t be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient, you only start to worry.
Remember! Remember! …that God is patient too!”
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We are struggling with so much every day. I am here to be an advocate for mental health and helping others. If you’re struggling with an internal battle, just know, I am here with you! My website/blog and social media page are safe places! Share your dreams and your struggles. Life isn’t easy but you’re doing great!
Ariel Pierce 