Songs musing on God’s mercy

“Room For You”

Jillian Warman

A stirring, country-rock anthem for those folks who (correct theology notwithstanding) may harbor secret doubts about their eternal destination. With vocal grit and a Texas tangle of violins, guitar, bass, and drums, Warman shares experience from the trenches: “I’ve been a runaway, a prisoner of fear / I’ve been knocked down, burned out, cried ten thousand tears.”

Reflecting on her own catalog of failure and pain, Warman wryly assures the listener to trust her that, “There’s mercy in waiting for all you’ve been through / If there’s room for me, I know there’s room for you.”

“Oxygen”

Gio. & Dell Mac

Driving bass snaps the song into gear with a powerful sense of purpose and location from the opening admission: “I was a lost cause, still you calling me a friend / despite all my flaws.” Gio and Mac trade bars seamlessly throughout, rounding out and smoothing all the rough edges of its alt-rock/pop and rap vibe. Dell Mac’s grainy, Post Malone–style vocal quavering captivates the ear and attunes it to the poignant realization, “All along, it was you that I was missing / now I’ve found the one, like a psalm You breathe new life into my lungs.”

“Highlight”

Xander Sallows

If rational and emotional pleas aren’t sufficient to lift your spirits, Sallows’ latest banger may knock you out of a melancholy by sheer force. After an acoustic headfake, the chorus launches into an EDM dance-jam celebrating how, “Everywhere I look I see Your face (in the stars and planets) / Every moment crossed in time and space (I can see the reason why) / You’re the highlight.” While lyrics are breezy, sometimes a monster beat and superior sound effects can do what words can’t—get you out of your head and back on terra firma with a smile on your face.

“Jesus Joy”

Lynda Randle

Randle has been a standout on the Gaither circuit for her ability to blend country gospel and urban spirituals. Here, her robust alto delivers the requisite heft to communicate her bluesy chops, and in so doing she conveys and creates that simple-but-all-­important quality of “Jesus Joy.” It’s a good thing too, because when all is said and done, what else can provide the necessary ballast to face the reality that, “Every day I wake up I’ve got a choice to make / Am I going to walk by my feelings or walk by faith?”

Jason Gray Photo by Crystal Martel

Comfort in God’s providential care

It’s an axiom at this point: Whatever Jason Gray touches turns to gold. This time it’s a woodsy little groove called “Sparrows” wherein he gently chides, “You can’t change a single thing by freaking out, it’s just gonna close you in / don’t let the trouble in.” The song’s carefree theme, further underscored with whimsical whistling, inevitably (and probably deliberately) evokes strong reminiscence of Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry About a Thing,” albeit from a Christian perspective. Gray encourages perseverance by recalling the evidence of God’s fatherly concern as shown in nature: “Not a field or flower escapes His notice / oh even the sparrow knows / He holds tomorrow.” And there the two songs diverge: one holding out God’s love as the basis for hope versus Marley’s beautiful (but ultimately baseless) platitude that “every little thing is gonna be alright.” The truth is many things are decidedly not all right, yet, “If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). —J.K.