Nations rage. Kingdoms totter. Markets tumble. Fears spread.
As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to grow in severity—and with it all manner of scary disruptions to everyday life—it’s normal to feel anxious. These are uncertain times.
But Christian, remember: We worship a sovereign God, “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way” (Ps. 46:1–2). We have infinite reason to hope!
Internalizing this truth can be hard, though, when the headlines are terrifying, the supermarket lines are apocalyptic, and everything is canceled. But one way we can rest in the knowledge and presence of God is to surround ourselves with music that sings it over us. Music that reminds us not to fear. Music that leads us to “the rock that is higher than I” (Ps. 61:2). Music that stills our souls and quiets our worried hearts.
One way we can rest in the knowledge and presence of God is to surround ourselves with music that sings it over us.
Music—treasured hymns, brand-new choruses, the psalms—has always been a way God’s people express their identity corporately. We sing because we constantly need to rehearse who God is, so that the reality of who we are in him sinks in. We need this music more than ever right now, and so I created a playlist of songs that represent, for me, some of the most comforting balms in these tenuous times.
Find the playlist on Spotify or Apple Music, and see the track list below.
What “songs of comfort” do you turn to in moments like this? I’d love to make this playlist a community one, where believers from all over the world—every tribe, tongue, and nation—can recommend songs to add. So if you have a favorite Christian song you think we should add, share it in the comments section of this article’s post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Over the next few weeks I will add some of your suggestions, in hopes that this playlist becomes an even better soundtrack of hope and worship in a world of fear.
- March 15 update: Twenty-five songs added to the playlist, thanks to your community suggestions!
- March 19 update: Fifteen songs added.
- March 25 update: Fifteen songs added.
- April 3 update: Ten songs added.
- April 21 update: Ten songs added.
- May 8 update: Ten songs added.
- June 1 update: Ten songs added.
- August 22 update: Fifteen songs added.
- “A Mighty Fortress,” Matt Boswell
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Live at TGC),” Austin Stone Worship
- “Psalm 1,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “When Trials Come (Live),” Sovereign Grace Music
- “Psalm 46,” Bifrost Arts
- “Be Still and Know,” Steven Curtis Chapman
- “All Things New,” Andrew Peterson
- “My Refuge,” Rivers & Robots
- “My Help, My God (Psalm 42),” Sandra McCracken
- “God Is For Us,” CityAlight
- “Psalm 3,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “Nothing to Fear,” The Porter’s Gate
- “Do Not Worry,” Rain for Roots feat. Ellie Holcomb
- “He’s Always Been Faithful,” Sara Groves
- “All Shall Be Well,” John Van Deusen
- “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” Chris Rice
- “You Remain Faithful,” South of Royal
- “Psalm 11,” Liturgical Folk
- “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul (Live),” Sovereign Grace Music
- “The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation (Psalm 27),” John Rutter
- “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor,” Matt Boswell
- “The Lord Is a Mighty King,” Psallos
- “He Will Hold Me Fast,” Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “Psalm 42,” Tori Kelly
- “Provider,” Rivers & Robots
- “Abide,” Liz Vice
- “Psalm 23,” Shane & Shane
- “The House of God, Forever,” Jon Foreman
- “Tis So Sweet,” Jadon Lavik
- “Tethered to the Cross,” Danny O’Callaghan
- “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” Mahalia Jackson
- “I Lift My Eyes (Psalm 121),” Cardiphonia Music feat. Caroline Cobb
- “My Hope Is Built (In You Alone),” Aaron Strumpel feat. Page CXVI
- “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” RYM Worship
- “My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62),” Sandra McCracken
- “Psalm 91,” Jonathan Ogden
- “The Secret Place – Acoustic,” Phil Wickham and Madison Cunningham
- “A Hidden Life,” James Newton Howard
- “Psalm 30,” The Corner Room
- “Steadfast,” Sandra McCracken
- “Morning Song (Give Me Jesus),” Antoine Bradford
- “All Things New,” Red Mountain Music
- “Made New by the Spirit (Live),” Immanuel Worship, Sam Allberry
- “One Thing Remains,” Passion, Kristian Stanfill
- “Praise to the Lord,” Sara Groves
- “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me,” Ella Fitzgerald
- “Psalm 130 (From the Depths of Woe),” Trinity Church
- “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” Choir of The King’s School
- “My Worth Is Not in What I Own,” Keith & Kristyn Getty, Fernando Ortega
- “I Don’t Have Much,” Mission House
- “We Are Not Overcome,” Bifrost Arts
- “Psalm 131,” Waterdeep
- “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies),” Chris Tomlin
- “Sovereign,” Beautiful Eulogy
- “King of Kings,” Hillsong Worship
- “I Will Praise Your Name, Yahweh,” John Van Deusen
- “The Lord Is My Salvation (Live),” Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “You’re the Dawn,” Strahan
- “Way Maker,” Mandisa
- “How Firm a Foundation,” Ordinary Time
- “Fullness of Joy (Psalm 16),” Caroline Cobb, Shane Barnard
- “Grace and Peace (2 Thessalonians 1:2),” Fernando Ortega
- “It Is Well With My Soul,” The Innocence Mission
- “I Need Thee Every Hour,” Anthem Lights
- “Christ Is Mine Forevermore,” CityAlight
- “Nothing But the Blood,” Wilder Adkins
- “Living Hope,” Phil Wickham
- “Until These Tears Are Gone,” Young Oceans, Harvest
- “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” Lauren Daigle
- “This Is My Father’s World,” Michael Card
- “Don’t Forget to Remember,” Ellie Holcomb
- “Gabriel’s Oboe,” Ennio Morricone
- “All Flesh Is Like Grass (1 Peter 1:24–25),” Fernando Ortega
- “Goodness of God,” The Worship Initiative, Bethany Dillon Barnard
- “We Will Feast in the House of Zion,” Sandra McCracken
- “The Lord’s My Shepherd,” Stuart Townend
- “Creation Awaits,” Emu Music
- “The Goodness of Jesus,” CityAlight
- “Always Good,” Andrew Peterson
- “No Longer Slaves,” I Am They
- “I Surrender All,” CeCe Winans
- “Another in the Fire – Live,” Hillsong United
- “Trust in You,” Lauren Daigle
- “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” Alison Krauss, The Cox Family
- “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me,” CityAlight
- “All I Have Is Christ,” Shiloh Church Choir
- “Hold Me Jesus,” Rich Mullins
- “Be Still My Soul,” Jadon Lavik
- “Sovereign Over Us,” The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane
- “Ancient of Days,” CityAlight
- “Is He Worthy?” Andrew Peterson
- “For God Alone (Psalm 62),” Paul Zach
- “Eternal Weight of Glory,” Wendell Kimbrough
- “Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long),” Sandra McCracken
- “O Love (That Will Not Let Me Go),” Calvary Creative, Madison Cunningham
- “There Is a Reason,” Alison Krauss & Union Station
- “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” The Lower Lights
- “Peace, Troubled Soul,” Ben Thomas
- “Peace My Mind – Live,” Common Hymnal
- “O Day of Peace That Dimly Shines,” Claire Holley
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” Indelible Grace Music
- “You Are the God Who Saves Me,” Badminton Road
- “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” Cities Church Music
- “God With Us,” All Sons & Daughters
- “Lord, I Need You (Señor, Te Necesito),” Matt Maher feat. Blanca
- “Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42),” Matt Boswell, Matt Papa
- “Now Thank We All Our God,” Toni Becker
- “Jesus With Thy Church Abide,” Indelible Grace Music
- “In Christ Alone,” Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “God’s Highway,” Sandra McCracken
- “We Labor Unto Glory,” The Porter’s Gate feat. Liz Vice
- “The Lord Is Good,” RYM Worship
- “Satisfied in You (Psalm 42),” The Sing Team
- “I Shall Not Want,” Audrey Assad
- “We Look to You – Live,” Sovereign Grace Music
- “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death,” Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa
- “Psalm 46,” Jenny & Tyler
- “All Creatures of Our God and King,” Norton Hall Band
- “I Have a Shelter,” Sovereign Grace Music
- “The Peace of God,” Scripture Lullabies
- “Psalm 12,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “Holy, Holy, Holy,” Sufjan Stevens
- “In the Garden,” Selah
- “Be Thou My Vision,” Norton Hall Band
- “My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62),” Stuart Townend
- “One Day (When We All Get to Heaven),” Matt Redman
- “May You Be Glorified!” John Van Deusen
- “The Crown Melody,” Anthem Lights
- “Storehouse Acoustic,” The Gray Havens, John Mark McMillan
- “Doxology,” Greg LaFollette, Mission House
- “Psalm 23,” Melanie Penn
- “Peace Like a River,” Page CXVI
- “Give Me Jesus,” Andrew Greer & Friends, Cindy Morgan, Sandra McCracken
- “All My Tears,” Claire Holley
- “There Is a Hope So Sure,” Graham Kendrick, Darlene Zschech
- “He’ll Never Change,” Urban Doxology
- “Never See the End,” Mission House
- “Jesus Saves,” Greg LaFollette
- “Nothing But the Blood,” Folk Hymnal
- “What Wondrous Love Is This,” Andrew Greer & Friends, Buddy Greene
- “Trust in You,” Antoine Bradford
- “I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130),” Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” Rain for Roots, Sandra McCracken
- “Conqueror,” Oasis Church Music
- “Kingdom of God,” Jon Guerra
- “Psalm 16,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “All I Need,” Citizens
- “In the Eventide,” Psallos
- “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” David Andrew
- “Doxology,” My Epic
- “Let the Ground Rest,” Chris Renzema
- “Be Still,” Loud Harp
- “Revelation Song,” RYM Worship feat. Madeline Edwards
- “Your Will Be Done (Acoustic),” CityAlight
- “Soli Deo Gloria,” Zambroa
- “The Glory Is the Lord’s,” Melanie Waldman, CityAlight
- “Leave It There,” Wilder Adkins
- “trust,” Sajan Nauriyal, CASS
- “12:00 Daydreaming,” Jonathan Ogden
- “Wisdom and Grace (Psalm 90),” Rain for Roots, Sandra McCracken
- “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” Josh Garrels
- “Keep Me Near the Cross,” The Fairfield Four
- “Christ Be All,” Grace Worship
- “Angle of Repose,” The Pharaoh Sisters
- “He Will Redeem It All,” Melanie Penn
- “Wonderful God,” Montell Fish, Jonathan Ogden
- “Graves Into Gardens,” The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane
- “In the Garden,” Josh Garrels
- “Roll Jordan Roll,” John Legend
- “The Last Mile of the Way,” Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers
- “Draw Me Close,” Shane & Shane
- “Consider the Stars,” Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” Sharon Irving
- “Someday Soon,” Russ Mohr feat. Kingdom Sessions Voices
- “Revelation 22:20–21,” The Corner Room
- “Come Now, O Prince of Peace,” Lo Sy Lo
- “Rest,” The Gray Havens
- “Mercy: I. Mercy,” Max Richter and Mari Samuelsen
- “You Are with Me,” Sandra McCracken
- “Holy Is Our God,” Austin Stone Worship
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Good Shepherd Collective
- “In Tenderness,” The Sing Team
- “Psalm 34,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “As the Deer,” Shane & Shane
- “Amazing Grace,” Good Shepherd Collective, feat. Liz Vice