Playlist for When “I’m Going Through” and I Need Encouragement

I had a friend say recently, “Life sucks so bad.” He wasn’t speaking necessarily about his own life but about life in general. Sometimes I have to agree.

Life is hard. Life is painful. The obstacles seem big – too big. Our faith seems small – sometimes too small. We seem to make some progress and then we get knocked back again. Sometimes we feel as though we take one step forward and twelve steps back. The Bible says a righteous man falls seven times, but sometimes we fall so often that the ground looks too familiar and it seems more reasonable to stay down than to get up just to fall again.

The health won’t improve. The bank account is still in overdraft. The money is not there. The friends have proven faulty. Situations don’t seem to be getting better. You are stuck. You are frustrated. You see no possible solution to your problems. It hurts yesterday, it hurts today, and you (think you) have reason to believe that it will hurt tomorrow.

In reality, there is no reason to be discouraged or stressed because we have the Word of God with us to encourage us, but sometimes you need a Word of the Lord through song. Sometimes you need a song to remind you about the God you serve and His ability, faithfulness and power to bring you through what you are going through. Sometimes you need musical encouragement.

These are the songs I turn to when I am discouraged. These are the songs I listen to when I’m going through whatever — discouragement, depression, doubt, anxiety… They span a variety of sub-genres (contemporary Gospel, southern Gospel etc), artists and decades, and I hope they bless you as they have blessed me. It’s not about the musicality per se – it’s about the lyrics.

There are no hymns here, but hymns also have encouraged me throughout my life. Don’t neglect your hymnal!

Sovereign God – Maurette Brown Clark

It Ain’t Over – Maurette Brown Clark

He’s Able – Voices of Unity ft. Darwin Hobbs

Tears are the Language – Heritage Singers

In His Time – Maranatha Singers (I grew up on this group)

He’ll Do it Again — Shirley Caesar (I also like this cover by Tiffany Campbell-Dailey)

Road is Rough — Sandra Brooks (my mom would sing this song all the time growing up…)

Four Days Late – Karen Peck (there are many other people who have covered this song, like Tiffany Campbell-Dailey)

God on the Mountain – Lynda Randle (another one of my mother’s fav songs)

The End of the Way – Lynda Randle

Give Them All to Jesus – Candy Christmas

Pray On – Babbie Mason

DeWayne’s Testimony and God Still Heals– DeWayne Woods

Let Go – DeWayne Woods

I Won’t Be Afraid – DeWayne Woods

Seasons – Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers ft Walter Hawkins

Encourage Yourself – Donald Lawrence

Strong Enough — Stacie Orrico

I Get On My Knees — Jaci Velasquez

I Know Too Much About Him – Smokie Norful

I Need You Now – Smokie Norful

I Will Get There – Boyz II Men (there’s also an a capella version)

Moving Forward – Israel Houghton, or Joanne Rosario Condrey and Cory “Coco Brother” Condrey (on the STAND album), or Jessica Ready (Israel does my fav cover, and actually, this is one of my favourite Gospel songs of all time)

Put it On the Altar – Jessica Ready

Every Prayer – Israel Houghton and Mary Mary

Prayers of the Righteous — Israel and New Breed

You are Not Forgotten – Israel and New Breed (feat. Jonny Lang)

Press On – Selah

Part the Waters/I Need Thee Every Hour — Selah

You are My Hiding Place – Selah

Be Still My Soul – Selah

It’s Already There – Jonathan Butler

When We Pray – Jonathan Butler

No Matter What – Jonathan Butler

Silence – Anthony Evans