In the past few months I have been living in a barren wasteland, feeling alone, enveloped in darkness. I can only imagine how Jesus felt, living in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. For me, there was no light. I wanted to give up and say, "forget this." However, I knew I could only make two decisions: give up, or have hope.

It is not easy to hope. In fact, some might consider it dangerous. Hope dares me to dream in spite of my own powerlessness: the agony of being unable to escape my own current circumstances. Hope also opens me up to disappointment. Oftentimes, disappointment was my reward for having hope. Unfortunately, I did give up hope for a while because of my disappointment. Instead, I was angry with God for not removing me from my difficult trials.

It took awhile, but God did redeem my story. Now, I am really in love with Him, filled with hope and faith. I would like to give you 10 songs that are great reminders that darkness does eventually lead to light.
 
1. "Hope" by Remedy Drive
Hope is the theme of Remedy Drive's latest album Hope's Not Giving Up, a collection of re-recordings of previously released songs. On their blog, the band described hope as a "melody--a beautiful sight for the worn and weary eye. Brighter than the fires on the West Coast, louder than the bombs in Syria, more vibrant than a virus, stronger than the winds of the tornado or the shackles of oppression." One song on the collection, "Hope" (originally on Daylight is Coming), underscores the theme of Remedy Drive's new project perfectly.

Favorite lyric: "Hope sweet hope, how much more can she take / Being our strength when our hearts run out of faith."

2. "Mercy Tree" by Lacey Sturm
In her song "Mercy Tree," Lacey Sturm details Christ's sufferings on the cross, and how he paid the ultimate price for our sins so that we could enjoy a permanent home in heaven.

"Mercy Tree" is from My Hope: Songs Inspired By The Message and Mission of Billy Graham. About hope Billy Graham, the legendary evangelist, said: "The cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for he took them upon himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the cross God declares, 'I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pain that you feel. But I love you.'"

Favorite lyric: "One day soon, we'll see his face / And every tear, he'll wipe away / No more pain or suffering / Praise him for the mercy tree."

3. "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North
The enemy binds me in my powerlessness with many lies. In response, I devise a strategy to overcome the enemy. The result: failure. I fight God because I think I have what it takes to fight the devil in my own way. The result: again, failure. Only God can overcome the darkness. Tenth Avenue North's "By Your Side," from their debut album Over and Underneath, implores the listener to submit to God's comfort and grace. 

NewReleaseToday's Kevin Davis spoke with Tenth Avenue North's frontman Mike Donehey about the song: "['By Your Side' calls listeners] to stop looking for what you can do for God and fix your gaze upon what God has done for you. Let that motivate you. We love because He first loved us." 

Favorite lyric: "I'll be by your side wherever you fall / In the dead of night whenever you call / And please don't fight these hands that are holding you / My hands are holding you."

4. "I Am Not Alone" by Kari Jobe
I would tear up whenever "I Am Not Alone" came on my playlist. In this inspirational anthem, Kari Jobe dwells on feelings of despair during the verses, but moves into hope during the chorus. For those who feel alone in the darkness, this song is a reminder that God is with us--even when we can't see or feel him.

On Facebook, Kari Jobe revealed the meaning of the song: "The story behind #‎IAmNotAlone..." she wrote. "Exodus 14:14--'The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still'."

Favorite lyric: "In the midst of deep sorrow / I see Your light is breaking through / The dark of night will not overtake me / I am pressing into You / Lord, You fight my every battle / And I will not fear."

5. "Hope in Front of Me" by Danny Gokey
"Hope in Front of Me," from the album with the same name, is a declaration of faith that says that even in the midst of powerlessness, there is an end to the dark season. Danny Gokey uses his own experience to inspire the listener to have faith, despite the overwhelming odds. Gokey's story is riddled with tragedy: his first wife, Sophia, died unexpectedly during routine heart surgery.  

As Gokey's website so eloquently puts it: "'I know in my soul no matter how bad it gets, I'll be alright. There's hope in front of me.' For Gokey, those words are more than just lyrics to a great song. They define his life and underscore his mission to reach others with hope and entertainment."

Favorite lyric: "I might be down but I'm not dead / There are better days still up ahead / Even after all I've seen / There's hope in front of me."

6."Trust in Me" Seventh Day Slumber
Finding hope in every circumstance has been a consistent theme throughout Seventh Day Slumber's ministry. "Trust in Me," a power ballad from We Are the Broken, illustrates this fact. Sung from God's point of view, the song challenges the listener to continually trust in God during tough trials.  

Favorite lyric: "There's freedom that you've never known / A peace that comes from letting go / Trust in me / A love so deep it knows no end / A refuge from the storm within."

7. "Here For You" by Devin Williams
"Here For You," a power ballad from Destruction of Kings, also sends a message of hope to the listener from God's point of view. Oftentimes, the enemy does an excellent job convincing us that we are condemned because of past sins. However, the song's lyrics provides a message of reassurance that God will comfort us--no matter what sins we have committed in the past.

Favorite lyric: "I took the pain for you / And while the world stood still / You were on my mind / I am here for you."

8. "Not Alone" by Red
The enemy attacks us when we are the most vulnerable: when we isolate ourselves. Besides trusting God, never ending encouragement from family and friends is vital to healing and protection. About "Not Alone," Red's frontman Michael Barnes told ArtistDirect.com: "'Not Alone is saying, 'You're not alone. I'm here, and I'll lift you up.'"

Favorite lyric: "And I'll be your hope when you feel like it's over / And I will pick you up when your whole world shatters / And when you're finally in my arms / Look up and see love has a face."

9.  "Rise Above" by Fireflight
Leaning on God is no easy feat. For me, trusting that God can lift me out of my current circumstances is harder when I have hope, particularly if disappointment derails that hope. Fireflight's "Rise Above" from the album Now says that it is never too late for a new start. I might have to wait for this new beginning, but it will happen.

Favorite lyric: "Can't give up on second tries / Leave the pride that blinds our eyes / No one taught us how to say goodbye / Now's the time for broken hearts / Embrace today a brand new start."

10. "Good, Good Father" by Chris Tomlin/Housefires
When God removed me from my difficult trials, I could not help but feel immense gratitude. "Good Good Father" is my anthem--and reminder--that God is with me in my seasons of suffering. While having hope might be a difficult endeavour, it's not impossible.

Favorite lyric: "Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide / But I know we're all searching / For answers only you provide / 'Cause you know just what we need / Before we say a word."

Photo credit: Nicole Murphy