5 Songs for the Desert Season

When was the last time you went through a desert season in your spiritual walk? Maybe you are going through one now. Today, my precious friend Aimee shares about a desert season in her life and what ministered to her during that time. It is a humble honor to have her today on the blog…

For me, one of the times I went through a particularly dehydrated season of life was in 2007 – and it lasted for more than 3 years.

5 Songs for the Desert Season

During that time, I felt like my only source of watering was through my own personal worship in song.

I’d play my cd’s in the kitchen while I did my wifely duties (this was when my husband worked outside the home and wasn’t my personal chef!) There were certain songs that resonated with my dehydrated heart.

I doubted God during that parched season. I even went as far as doubting His very existence! That sounds utterly ridiculous to me now. But that was an incredibly real struggle for me. And I know I am not the only one who has ever doubted His existence at some point.

But I kept singing these Christian songs. These songs gave me hope; something to hold on to. The lyrics, based upon scripture and the promises of God, gently irrigated my thirsty heart.

You see, it was during this time that I could not even bring myself to open my Bible and read the precious words written on those pages. The worship songs were what kept my head above the stormy waves.

What were some of those songs? Are you curious?

**Please note that links below are to YouTube videos of the songs.

One I often listened to, and sang while tears fell from my cheeks, was a BarlowGirl song. OK, these young women knew how to rock! And they also knew how to be very real and honest with their lyrics.

Never Alone talks about the struggle of not hearing God’s voice or feeling God’s presence. Who hasn’t felt that? BUT…we aren’t always going to hear Him or feel Him. That doesn’t mean He isn’t with us. These are the times when we must trust His promises. As the song goes, “We cannot separate, You’re part of me. And though You’re invisible, I’ll trust the unseen”.

“The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46:7 NLT

Now, this next song gets me choked up every time. It is so full of pain, and yet so beautiful. Britt Nicole’s lyrics are what my soul was crying out in that season. It felt like I was in that drought for so long. Why wasn’t He doing something? And then I came to a point of relinquishing all of my demands and allowed God to Have His Way with my life – even if it meant staying in this lonely desert as a bit more.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

A third song that helped me hang on to hope was Jeremy Riddle’s Sweetly Broken. I was so broken, but to see my brokenness as ‘sweet’ and placed at the foot of the cross meant so much to me. It was here, at the foot of the Cross, that I was able to just rest. “At the cross, You beckon me. You draw me gently to my knees, and I am lost for words, so lost in love. I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered.”

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

We go through seasons in our spiritual walk. Nichole Nordeman’s song Every Season reminded me of this truth and that spring and summer would come, but all seasons are necessary for spiritual growth. “And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced; teaching us to breathe. What was frozen through is newly purposed; turning all things green.” I also realized that it takes courage to break through that surface and into a new season. What once was is going to be used for something new. Through every season, He is re-creating me.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

One last song; this one reminded me of who He is. I Am by Nicole C. Mullen. My favourite name for Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah because in the book of Proverbs (30:30), it says that a lion retreats before NOTHING, He is mighty. “If you need someone to give you a purpose for your broken past and restore the reservoir of hope inside of you and mercies for each morning that is new. I AM.” I desperately needed my reservoir restored to full hope. Just remembering the two words “I AM” was enough to begin filling that reservoir again.

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14

I hope and pray that these songs bring as much comfort and peace to you as they did to me. And, I’d love to know of any songs that opened up a wellspring in your dry season.

 

Aimee Imbeau

Aimee is a home educating support teacher who lives in the sunny Okanagan, BC. Aimee has been blissfully married for 17 years and still swoons at the sight of her tall, dark and handsome husband, Marcus. When she isn’t home educating her 3 kids, she enjoys sewing, quilting, scrapbooking and hanging out with her family. She blogs over at A Work of Grace. You can find her on facebook, twitter or Pinterest.

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8 Comments

  1. “Have Your Way” was a song that I played every single day when I was 16, and going trough more than a dry season. Though the lyrics, I learned what it really meant to put my trust in God.
    I loved this post, and the songs you shared. Some I heard for the first time.
    Destinee Nicole | thegirlinsequins.com

    1. Thank you Destinee. I love how God has used these people to sing new songs into our hearts, new life. I love that He is so creative in the ways He cares for us. Although those dry times are very difficult to go through – and I hope I never have to go through one again – they sure strengthen our trust and faith in Him. Thank you for taking the time to share your heart here.

  2. These are great! I find that in the desert seasons, songs are what get me through. God speaks and comforts through music whether I am listening to it, singing or playing it. I’ve come to see and use music as a prayer of sorts when my soul is distraught and worship when I am completely spent. My all time favorite is “It is Well”. So much of life just isn’t well with my soul. There is so much pain and heartbreak. I find singing “It is Well” reminds me of His sovereignty and recenters me on His will. Thank you for sharing, Aimee!

    1. Oh, yes, that is a wonderful hymn. Last year, the kids and I learned a bit about the author of the song – knowing the story behind the song makes it all the more meaningful. So many have been written out of grief and unspeakable pain. Thank you Kaylene!

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