Love Through Music

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m posting my second of four LOVE blogs during February of 2025 on Valentine’s Day. How exciting?!

I’ve been trying to figure out what title to give this blog. I don’t have one as I’m writing these words. It’s inspired by one I wrote back in 2022. I wrote “10 Songs for Mental Health Support.” This one is similar. I could likely use the same title and make it a part two. However, I’m looking at this one a little differently.

I have a list of 14 songs. They’re all songs that have impacted my mental health in some way. They’re all songs I’ve heard while listening to my favorite radio station, K-Love. They’re all songs from Christian artists.

I initially thought about naming this blog God’s Love or God’s Love Through Music. I’ve thought about naming it Love Through Music. I’ve thought about keeping Mental Health in the title and adding Love somehow.

You’ll obviously know what I named it before you reach this sentence. I’m including my thought process about the title because it feels important.

I have mentioned in sprinkles here and there, through my blog, that I believe in God. However, I know people can feel some type of way when God or religion is mentioned. I don’t want this blog to feel polarizing. I’m not writing it to sway anyone to believe what I believe. I want to stay far away from the Christian’s who are deep into racist beliefs, bigotry, spreading hate, fear mongering, etc.

I want people to read this blog to potentially find songs that may help their mental health and ultimately realize how truly loved they are. Sure, I’m pointing out how this specific love comes from God, but I’m also trying to get across the point that no matter how dark your life gets, you’re worthy of love. God’s love, of course, but also self love. You deserve to love yourself for every unique and wonderful detail about you. Maybe you won’t ever believe there’s a God out there that loves you, but I hope you can learn to love yourself.

So, with all that being said, I’ll drop the list of songs/artists and then explain why they have impacted me. If you want to listen to them first and then check back in, that would be fun!

1. “Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
2. “First Things First” – Consumed By Fire
3. “You” – Apollo LTD
4. “Move” – Mercy Me
5. “Be Alright” – Evan Craft
6. “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” – Danny Gokey
7. “Good Day” – Forrest Frank
8. “Church” – Cochran & Co.
9. “I Will Carry You” – Ellie Holcomb
10. “The Truth” – Megan Woods
11. “When I Fall” – Katy Nichole
12. “Together” – For King and Country
13. “He Sees You” – Terrian
14. “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald

If you listened first, then welcome back! If you kept reading and might listen later, here is a bit about why these songs have impacted me.

1. “Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
   • If you don’t want to read all of the songs and my justification for choosing them, at least read this one. It’s one that I heard only a few days ago for the first time. It spoke to me, not even just for the beautiful singing, but for the deep message. I cannot even begin to tell how many times I have cried out to God in a “desperate prayer.” I never understood why I went through all the struggles I did from 19-31. I’m not claiming my life is perfect now at 32, but I am saying I’ve been praying a lot more “grateful prayers” than anything else. This song shows that no matter what you’re experiencing in life, God has a plan for you. He loves you. He may not be able to explain it in words, but hopefully one day you will see it. I cannot promise that life will get better. There are so many examples of life not getting better. I can say though that you are loved and no matter how hard life gets, God loves you, and so many other people love you. You deserve love in the”valleys” so when you’re looking down from the mountain one day, all you see are “Flowers.”
2. “First Things First” – Consumed By Fire
   • This song hit me in a different way than some of the others on the list. It made me think about where my love lies. I have a desire to make a difference in this world and to impact the mental health conversation in a positive way. I also have a desire to publish a book that potentially sells a million or more copies. I don’t necessarily want to be famous, but being “famous” gives me more of an opportunity to help others. I hope that I don’t ever find myself worried about the “riches and fame and all they could ever buy.” I want my focus to be on God’s love and helping people not only feel my love for them, but more importantly, God’s love.
3. “You” – Apollo LTD
   • Okay, maybe this one should be number one? I didn’t really list these in any specific order and I’m doing a relisten of most as I write this to ensure I get the message across. One of the lyrics is “It can be a hard, hard thing just being alive.” I told most of my clients through CPS and I tell my clients at my current job that being a human is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. It truly is so incredibly hard living on some days. I would recommend looking up the chorus to this song. It speaks to how truly loved you are just for being alive and being yourself. You were chosen to be here just as you are. You don’t have to prove your worth to anyone. God’s not giving up on you and you shouldn’t give up on yourself either! You deserve to love yourself, just as you are.
4. “Move” – MercyMe
   • This one is a little more upbeat and one you can grove a bit too but still packs a hefty message. It’s similar to the song “Brighter Days” by Blessing Offor that was included in my mental health songs list. Basically, it mentions there will be brighter days. It encourages us to keep moving forward and look for the light. Again, I cannot make promises that everything will work out how you want, but there are days that have more light than others. God wants us to know that He’s the light and to trust in Him to make it shine for you. He wants you to feel joy even though it’s not promised every day. He loves you even in the darkness.
5. “Be Alright” – Evan Craft
   • I love the English and Spanish blend in this song. It’s truly magical. If you know the classic children’s song that says, “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” then you will appreciate this grown-up version. It acknowledges how often we feel like our worlds are falling apart. We beg for them to get put back together. The message is basically that He’s got us in His hands. How comforting is that? Even if pieces feel like they’re falling, you’re not slipping through God’s hands. He’s got you. He loves you. You deserve to love yourself, to pick up your pieces, and keep moving forward.
6. “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” – Danny Gokey
   • Every time I hear the lyric “tell your heart to beat again,” I get emotional. I cannot tell you how many days I felt like an empty shell. I couldn’t feel anything. It reminds you that regardless of the choices you’ve made in the past, you can let those go, and “tell your heart to beat again.” You are not your past. God has carried you through the darkness and He will continue to be there for you in your time of need. You’ve successfully made it through 100% of your hardest days. You deserve to love yourself and find love in living life.
7. “Good Day” – Forrest Frank
   • If this isn’t a song to get your day going, then I don’t know what is. This song is such a bop. “I know He’s got my back,” is a helpful reminder as to why we should happily sing that we’re going to have a good day. I always feel happier after this song. I highly recommend listening to it every morning to get you motivated to keep pushing through, even if things look bleak. God loves you and He’s got your back.
8. “Church” – Cochran & Co.
   • When I first heard this song, I didn’t know how to feel. After the fourth or fifth time I found myself singing along and really feeling like it was a song I needed to hear. For so long I avoided church because the people I’ve met through my times going, have tended to not be great people. My friends (now family) in Texas introduced me to a church that pretty much saved my life. I don’t know what I would have done had I not started going there regularly the last year or so living there. I needed that time to really recognize that God had my back, and even if I only felt one hour of true peace a week, it could sustain me. I rarely talked to anyone there because I was there just to listen and have a moment to myself. Now, I was blessed to meet a friend who would introduce me to my partner and lead me to attending the most beautiful church. I’ve never felt so loved by a church in my life. It’s amazing to find so many beautiful people that love God, love themselves, and love others so deeply. I’m eternally grateful to be around so much love in a church. It may take a while, but keep searching. Find a church that truly embraces God’s love and are true examples of God’s love in human form.
9. “I Will Carry You” – Ellie Holcomb
   • I think another fairly well-known Christian symbolism is the footprints in the sand. It speaks to God carrying us when we need him. There are so many reasons to feel anxious, depressed, and so many other emotions, but at all points in the day, God is willing to carry you. He loves you, no matter what state you’re in. I truly appreciate the lyric that states God is not ashamed of you. This is another one that reminds us, no matter what we have done, God loves us. “You are not the sum of your mistakes.” You are so much more than the decisions you have made in this life. You are not valued by what you can give to others, you are truly valued simply for existing.
10. “The Truth” – Megan Woods
    • This one speaks to how many lies we tell ourselves. How many times have you told yourself that you’re ugly, that you’re not smart enough, that you’re not worthy of joy. “He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing.” God sees you and wouldn’t change a thing! How amazing is that to hear? To know that someone can love you just as you are. “I don’t belong to the lies; I belong to you.” These lies you’ve been telling yourself can’t keep holding on to you. Let them go and know that you are SO LOVED! You are beautiful! You are intelligent! You are worthy of so much joy!
11. “When I Fall” – Katy Nichole
    • Goodness, I could paste a huge amount of the lyrics here. The beginning of the song is about feeling like you have nothing left to give. You’ve found yourself so down you can’t imagine continuing to fight to stay alive. “I’ve prayed all the prayers I have to pray.” Seriously. I questioned quite a bit for a while whether God truly cared. How many more prayers could I pray? Why wasn’t anything changing? You can’t really see anything good when you’re drowning in so much bad. I don’t know the plans God has for you. I’ve already mentioned not being able to promise that things will end up how you hope, but there are good days. There is joy. God is there to catch you when you fall.
12. “Together” – For King and Country
    • This song ends with “Together we are dangerous. Together with our differences. Together we are bolder, braver, stronger.” This song tags along with number #11 and maybe even #8. We are not meant to be alone. Community is so important. If we fall, yes, God is there to catch us, but your community should be there to catch you as well. I feel the ending lyrics speak to the power of diversity. Our differences, our unique abilities, our unique selves make us a powerful team. Valuing all the unique things humans have to offer is so important. We are stronger together. What you may lack, someone can pick up the slack in. It’s beautiful. Find your people. They are out there. It may take a while but keep searching! You are worthy of not just God’s love, but of the love that the right people are able to show.
13. “He Sees You” – Terrian
    • I love the similar messaging in a large amount of the songs. This one doesn’t provide any additional themes that I haven’t mentioned, but gosh, it’s a beautiful song. Sometimes, a different beat and a different voice can make you see things differently. Maybe one of the previous songs wasn’t how you needed to receive the message. Try this one. God sees you. You are not your past. Bring your fears, worries, tears, etc. to God and let him help you. God LOVES you.
14. “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald
    • This is another I heard for the first time fairly recently. It’s another similar concept, probably most similar to what I wrote under #11. Sometimes you’ll be desperate. Life is going to be hard. Life is going to test us. People are going to make us angry and hurt us even when it makes no sense. For some, the main source of hope that they can find is in God. It’s okay to cry out and ask for help. He hears you. He loves you.

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Y’all. I thought I had 15 songs when I started writing this blog. I had 15 pictures of songs that I’ve been accumulating since 2023 in the event that I wanted to make a similar song blog. I realized that one of the pictures was just a random song that I liked and not one that was related to this topic. I was feeling weird about having 14 and my mom immediately pointed out that 14 is literally perfect. Today is February 14, 2025. I wanted to post this blog on Valentine’s Day, and it is perfect to have 14 songs on the 14th! I didn’t even know how many songs I had accumulated until I started writing. I love when God sends us little moments of joy.

I hope you’ll take time to listen to at least one of these songs. I know it may be hard for some of you considering it’s so based on the God I believe in. However, please remember, regardless of your belief, the end message is still the same. You are worthy of love. You don’t have to prove your worth to anyone. If we don’t love ourselves, we can lose hope. We’re not always going to have the support we deserve around, so we need to have love in our hearts for ourselves.

Regardless of what your Valentine’s Day plans are, you deserve to feel love today. I love you all! Be kind to yourself. Being a human is hard. You’re doing great!