I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40:1-3
Dear Christian Songwriter,
Recently, Singaporeans across the island united in a passionate rendition of Home. Our spirits were lifted, our national pride swelled. As the handphone went plummeting down, our optimism was shooting up.
We all need hope – something to look forward to with an assurance that things are going to be alright.
We loved the moment and the initiative. But it struck us that the reason Singaporeans enjoyed it was because there is a void that needs filling: Hope.
We all need hope – something to look forward to with an assurance that things are going to be alright.
The world will try to draw hope from the belief that this is home, truly. But that isn’t how the faith-filled believer thinks. We know that this world is not our home, we’re just a-passing through.
That’s the assurance we have that things are going to be alright. Not merely in the wisdom of man and the wonders of medical science – though we thank God for those! – but that as we wait upon the Lord, he will hear our cry. And that, ultimately, our real home is in heaven and an eternal day awaits us where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
Dear Songwriter, a world struggling to find hope needs to know the hope that you have.
We are filled to overflowing with hope, thanks to the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). God has put a new song in your mouth, a hymn of praise in your heart (Psalm 40:3).
We have a month left (at least!) in this Circuit Breaker. Dear Songwriter, it’s time to put pen to paper, fingers to instruments, mouth to microphone – and gift that new song to the world.
- Be still. Ask the Holy Spirit for a word and a song.
Draw inspiration from what is going on around you in this brave new COVID-19 world. Articulate your emotions into lyrics. Find the modern day psalmist in you. - Record yourself singing your #songsofhope.
Your mobile phone will do. We’re all used to home-shot videos by now. - Post the video on social media with the hashtag #songsofhope.
Don’t worry about whether the visuals or sound quality are good enough. You are singing to the Lord, and that is good enough.
Take a look at some of these songs that have been written since the virus hit us: Holding On, 不要惧怕 – 抗炎歌, and Nobody Knows But You.
Don’t wait too long! Every day that passes is a chance to lift someone’s spirits with fresh and very real hope.
Finally, dear Songwriter, know that you are not alone in this.
The struggles against the coronavirus and its social and economic impacts are universal. The world is finally united – in anxiety and despair.
Feel free to collaborate. Reach out to someone you’ve always wanted to write a song with. Tap on your friends who can play other instruments.
Take for instance this first #songofhope – Alarice Hong of Awaken Generation and worship singer-songwriter Josh Yeoh, who collaborated over the past few days to write this new song, One Pursuit. It was written, recorded, and shot from their own homes – we’re all in this Circuit Breaker together!
Dear Songwriter, over to you. Will you bless the world with your #songsofhope?
Let’s flood the digital airwaves with hope, and turn back the tide of hopelessness and negativity.
Let’s turn the fear of the virus into the fear of the Lord.
Let’s tell the world about a God who hears their cries.
