For most people, life seems to consist of emotional “seasons”. We find there are long periods of time where we feel happy, other periods where we are feeling flat, and stretches of time where we are feeling sad. Music is an essential expression of our emotional life. An upbeat and optimistic song during a season of grief can be unhelpful, and even offensive. Sometimes, we need a sad song to sing.
Churches, I think, can have seasons as well. There can be times of great joy and excitement, times of quiet contentment, but also times of struggle, frustration and sadness. We need church songs that help us to express this aspect of our shared experience, of our life together.
My own, much loved, church has been going through a difficult time of late. We recently rediscovered the Sovereign Grace song, “In the Valley”, and it has been a great blessing -
When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn't be my decision
It's here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley's where You make me more like Christ
Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You're near with every breath
In the valley
In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley's where Your power is revealed
The song was written by Bob Kauflin. It is based on an old Puritan prayer called “The Valley of Vision”, and the tune is as beautiful as the words. If only there were more like it!
