I’ve been writing a lot over the past few days about how people of faith can respond to our current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. From what I can see the few times I have been out in the public in recent days, and from conversations I’ve been having with various people, everyone is feeling the stress of this situation.

Whether it is someone who feels that their place of work should have shut down already, but it has not; someone who has a compromised immune system; someone who has been travelling and has to self-isolate; someone worried about the impact this will have on their finances; or simply those of us who are starting to get bored with having out at home. Everyone is feeling it on some level.

I struggle whenever my routine is interrupted. I’m a creature of habit, and I like the rhythm of routine – knowing (within reason) what the days will bring, And my routines are not just interrupted right now, most of them are out the window.

With no end in sight – we simply don’t know what the recommendations will be in coming days – it is incredibly important to look for things to bring us hope and joy. Things to remind us of what we believe. Things that are quite simply, good for the soul.

To that end, I want to share with you a few of my favourite songs that speak to my faith. (The title of each below is a link to a youtube video of that song – click and listen and be blessed, friends!)

Is He Worthy is a song by Andrew Peterson (my favourite Christian singer/songwriter), in which he uses a question-and-response method of singing. He uses a catechism (that isa summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians) for the lyrics. The video is beautiful and it contains a lovely visual of Andrew starting out alone, but as the song builds becoming surrounded by people of faith singing with him. This song was covered by Chris Tomlin, who is the reigning voice of contemporary worship music today.

Praise You in this Storm is by the christian band Casting Crowns. This song has been meaningful and helpful to me anytime I’ve faced difficult days. I appreciate the heartache of the lyrics, but also the strong message of praising God even when the days are difficult. This is is a beautiful version that the band recorded live at the Youtube Space in New York.

We will Feast in the House of Zion is a new song to us at Graceview. A number of us went to a one-day worship conference and got to experience this song in one of our workshops that day. Our Music and Worship Committee suggested using it during Lent as a response to the Lenten Liturgies we read each week during the season. The song presents the promise of God – that we will feast in God’s house, and weep no more. Could there be a better promise to cling to in these days? This version is sung live by Sandra McCracken who recorded it on her album “Psalms.” Why not listen to this song and continue to work at growing familiar with it so that when we gather again in person, we can sing it out as a song of triumph?

This is not an exhaustive list, just a taste of what is available. If you click on the videos above, you will see other videos suggested by YouTube. You could literally fall down a rabbit hole of exploring some of the worship videos. It would be a good way to spend some time! Just playing these three songs in the background as I’ve written this blog has done so my good for my current state of mind and spirit.

I promise to blog again tomorrow friends, I’ll share some favourite more traditional hymn videos then. Until then – be encouraged, trust God, keep praying and be kind!