A few nights ago, my father called me to tell me that one of my cousins in the Philippines, Kenneth, passed away. Even though I wasn't close to my cousin, I spent a good portion of that night just crying. Since my family was an ocean away and I was in college, I couldn't really talk to anyone about how I was feeling. I felt like all I could do was turn to God and pray.
But I prayed in my own way. For me, worship songs are my prayers. When I am unable to articulate everything I'm feeling in the moment, I just listen to praise and worship songs or sing them out loud and let the music speak for me. In the end, it's actually really comforting.
If you're struggling to cope with the death of someone you love, here are a few praise and worship songs that you can listen to to help you find peace.
1. Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) - Hillsong United
"Even when the fight seems lost
I'll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell
I'll praise You
Even when it makes no sense to sing
Louder then I'll sing Your praise"
I played this song over and over again after I found out that my cousin died. Even though losing my cousin hurt, I loved being able to tell God that no matter what happened to me or my family, I would always sing His praise.
2. Forever - Kari Jobe
"The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting?
Our resurrected King
Has rendered you defeated"
Death couldn't stop God, and now death can't stop us. There is victory in Jesus, and no loss or sadness or grief can take that away. We will be reunited with our loved ones again, because death doesn't have the power to separate us from each other forever.
3. I Am Not Alone - Kari Job
"I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me"
This song is a great reminder that God is always by our side through everything that we're going through. Even when it feels like people won't sympathize with you or you just wish the world would stop, God is always there.
4. O Come to the Altar - Elevation Worship
"Oh what a Savior
Isn't he wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen"
I can't help but smile whenever I sing the first two lines of that bridge, just because it is really nice to proclaim that Jesus is wonderful all the time.
5. Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture
"You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning"
This song is just a reminder that God's love is always constant, and that love, hope, and joy will prevail in the end.
