Blog Post Seven: My Weapon is a Melody

Music is a powerful tool. It has this ability to connect and unite people all over the world. We see tens and thousands of people flocking to arenas to hear the latest trending artist perform. Music is everywhere: you hear it in our cars, homes, shops… Music is able to convey emotion and allow the listener to experience what the author is trying to say. I recently watched an episode of Survivor without the musical score – man, was I bored. I love watching Survivor but without the music – I felt no connection to the game. We all have a favorite genre or song; we all enjoy music.

As a worshiper, I know how powerful music can be to lead people. Typically, we think about a Sunday morning service or some sort of gathering but I would go further to say – music has the ability to lead and guide people outside of these settings. Often, the things we believe are formed by the songs that we hear. I know I, for one, have proclaimed God to be a “Good, Good Father” in my prayer times ever since the song Good, Good Father was released. Over the years, there has been songs that have shaped our ideas of who God is. That is why it is so important for us as worshipers to pay attention to what we are listening to, singing and perhaps leading others to sing.

There was this song we used to sing weekly at school when I was a kid. “With Jesus in the boat – we can SMILE at the storm”. I cannot tell you how many times that song has popped into my head. Sometimes when I’m driving, sometimes when it rains and sometimes in the line at the grocery story but the times it comes to me the most is the times when I feel anxious, worried, stressed or fearful. In those moments, I sing that song with everything in me – proclaiming that Jesus brings surety and calm when the waves around me are raging. My school’s music teacher probably never realized the way she would still be “leading” me, almost twenty years later.  

Last year, I had a panic attack. I was facing some of the biggest emotional turmoil I had ever faced. I was shaking, my words were broken, and I could barely walk. While a friend was driving me to meet my brother – the song You Cannot Be Stopped by Chris Quilala and Phil Wickham had come to mind (we had recently introduced it in our church).

“Mover of mountains, breaker of chains. Jesus has triumphed over the grave. We sing hallelujah, the battle is won. Nothing can stand, against our God!”

You Cannot Be Stopped – Chris Quilala and Phil Wickham

That is all that could come out of my mouth but in that moment it’s all that needed to. God’s presence overwhelmed me, and I experienced peace in my heart again.

In another instance, I was fifteen and I was getting ready for school. My family had been facing some uncertainty. I picked up my electric guitar and while it was unplugged, I began singing the bridge of Hillsong’s God of Ages. “I am trusting, You. I am trusting, You. I am trusting You with ALL my HEART”. I felt peace.

These instances in my life are like memorial stones that I can recall God’s faithfulness in that time.

You see, music is a powerful tool that can lead us into God’s presence. The catchy tunes or memorable melodies help us recall powerful lyrics that can point towards God. As the Bethel song Raise a Hallelujah lyrics say, MY WEAPON IS A MELODY.

We are facing some of the most uncertain times in recent history – as the church let us remember to pray, sing and proclaim the truth about who God is.

With love,
Hayden Hayl’