A Soundtrack to My Fellows Year
If you have been around me for a while, you know how much I love the arts. I enjoy watching and listening to others perform, and I often experience the Lord’s presence through music. Our Sunday worship at Redeemer is one of the highlights of my week. Not only is the blend of voices and instruments beautiful, but the lyrics of the songs we sing often offer glimpses into the Lord’s character, reflect our emotions towards Him and His posture towards us, and provide us with hope. Since I am affectionately called “DJ Calley” by my fellows group, I thought I would create a short list of songs that reflect my experience as a fellow over the past eight months and remind me of the truths I have learned about God.
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Shane and Shane)
Favorite Lyrics: Ponder anew what the Almighty can do/ If with His love he befriend thee!
Takeaways: Throughout this year, I have realized my own tendency to underestimate the Lord. In such a broken world, it can be easy for me to overlook the little ways in which He is working, or to wonder why He chose humans to participate in building His kingdom. However, this song prompts me to remember that God invites us to come as we are and give Him whatever we have; He can do so much more than we could ever ask or imagine, even through the most unlikely people. During fellows, I have been able to focus more intently on God’s slow and wonderful work in my life, in the lives of others, and in creation. He is so worthy of praise!
2. Abide with Me (Audrey Assad)
Favorite Lyrics: When other helpers fail and comforts flee/ I triumph still if Thou abide with me.
Takeaways: In our Bible study last semester, we walked through the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus, and one of the biggest themes I took away from this study was how much God simply longs to be with us. In my time alone with the Lord, it is easy for me to become antsy, searching for the right words to pray or the right verses to read in the Bible. Thanks to our solitude retreats, however, I have grown to enjoy simply sitting and soaking in His presence. I often sing this song as a kind of prayer to remind myself that the Lord is near, even when I can’t feel it.
3. You Cannot Lose My Love (Sara Groves)
Favorite Lyrics: Many things may be misplaced/ Your very memories be erased/ No matter what the time or space/ You cannot lose my love.
Takeaways: Even though I have been a Christian for most of my life, I don’t know if I will ever outgrow my need to be reassured that God loves me. While life after college graduation can feel like one big transition after the other, I have learned that God’s love is constant and more powerful than I could imagine. No matter what we do, He will never change His mind about us, and He always calls us His. I hope that this song will continue to work its way into my heart and remind me of what God really thinks about me. He is kinder than words can describe.
4. Runaway (Jess Ray)
Favorite Lyrics: Even when you beat upon my chest/ Tell me that you don’t understand/ I’m gonna love you and teach you to love me again.
Takeaways: While this year has been one of the most joyful for me so far, it has not been without its struggles. The fellows have often talked about the importance of lament, and the fact that we can share our sadness and frustration with God. This song reminds me that God sees our struggles and experiences our pain, and He can handle our questions and doubts. Even when we feel like giving up, He leads us back to Himself, like a shepherd bringing a lost sheep home.
5. I Need Thee Every Hour (The Worship Initiative)
Favorite Lyrics: I need thee, oh I need Thee/ Every hour I need Thee/ Bless me now, my Savior/ I come to thee.
Takeaways: Over the past eight months, I have realized how much I hesitate to depend on the Lord. I want to try to do things for myself, and become frustrated when I fail or when things don’t turn out the way I planned. I desperately need the Lord’s help to guide me, and this simple chorus reminds me that dependence is not shameful. God designed us to need Him and each other. We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can trust that God will be there in our time of need.
There you have it--a glimpse of my fellows year in song. I could not be more thankful for my fellows experience, and I hope the songs I have shared could be as comforting to you all as they are to me.
Love,
Calley