Anchors of Hope - Music is a Gift

There are certain songs that seem to hold me together when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. Do you have one of those? A song that reminds you of who you are or maybe who God is when you’ve forgotten.

For me, music has always been an anchor of hope. It lifts my soul and either fills me with joy and praise or with comfort and peace. Music helps me pray when I can’t find the words. I remember one particularly difficult season, I heard the song, “If You Want Me To” by Ginny Owens. I played it for weeks on repeat. It brought me to tears every time I played but eventually something in me softened and I felt the beginning of healing. I don’t remember all the lyrics, but I remember the feeling of hope stirring quietly, like a glimmer of light in the darkness.

That’s the mystery of music. It finds its way into the heart before the mind can catch up. St. Ignatius invites us to notice what moves us deeply and to pay attention to what brings life, peace, and consolation. For me, music is often that sacred movement. A hymn at Mass, a familiar chant, or even a song on the radio can feel like God’s hand on my shoulder gently steadying me and anchoring me in love.

Some of the most powerful anchors of hope in our Christian story are the Negro spirituals – songs born out of suffering and yet full of deep trust. “Wade in the Water” has always been one of my favorites. It calls us to step into mystery, to trust that even when the waters are troubled, God is stirring something new. Those songs were more than music; they were prayers of survival.

During the pandemic when we were isolated, I found myself clinging to music more than ever. It was a healing balm and a pathway to God. It was during this time I heard the song, “Belovedness”, by Sarah Kroger. I listened to it every day. I prayed with the words and several of my journal entries were inspired by its message. That song helped me remember who I am and whose I am. It became a daily anchor, holding me steady in uncertain waters.

Maybe you’ve felt this too — that quiet reassurance when a song meets you right where you are. Maybe it’s the way a choir lifts their voices together, or in the silence that follows the final note. In those moments, I sense God’s presence more clearly than ever in the space between sound and silence.

Music anchors me when I drift. It reminds me that hope is not something far away, but something that lives within us, waiting to be sung back to life.

How about you? What songs have carried you through the storms of life? What lyrics remind you that God is still at work, even in the waiting? Perhaps this week, take a few quiet moments to listen to the song that finds you. Let it become your prayer. Let it hold and comfort you in the rhythm of God’s love and care for you.

Going Deeper:

We invite you to pray with the songs mentioned above:

• “If You Want Me To” - A song of surrender and trust in God’s leading.

• “Wade in the Water” - A reminder of faith and freedom even through troubled waters

• “Belovedness” - An invitation to embrace your identity as God’s beloved.

You can may also want to print out the lyrics of a song that God is offering you and pray with the words as a Lectio Divina.

Photo by Hanna Morris on Unsplash.

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Kim Scott

Kim joined the Ignatian Ministries team in September of 2024. Kim has enjoyed a 20-year career as a Human Resources executive. As she transitioned into mid-life, her desire for finding a deeper meaning and purpose for her life led her to the grace of adoption and then to begin a new career in church ministry. For almost 20 years, Kim walked with countless souls as a spiritual mentor, helping others discover their inner life and unique meaning and purpose. Kim describes her life’s purpose as being a force and a voice for hope and healing. She lives in Henderson, NV with Gary, her husband of 30+ years and Kiara, their young adult daughter.