Music That Has Helped Me Keep Walking
Music has a way of reaching places that sermons and books sometimes cannot. A song can find us in our loneliness, remind us of God’s presence, and give us hope when the road ahead seems uncertain.
As I reflected on Jesus’ words, “Stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” I found myself returning to five songs that have spoken deeply to my own journey. Together they tell the story of a pilgrim learning that the deepest longing of the heart is not merely to find another person, but to discover the God who has been walking beside us all along.
1. “You Are Mine”
The Gift of Belonging
One of the deepest human desires is the desire to belong. We long to be seen, known, loved, and accepted. Too often we look for that belonging in relationships, accomplishments, or the approval of others.
“You Are Mine” reminds us that our first and deepest identity comes from God. The song echoes Isaiah’s promise that God has called us by name and claimed us as His own.
As someone who has experienced loss, divorce, disappointment, and seasons of loneliness, I find comfort in the song’s assurance that God’s presence remains even when other relationships fail.
Before I am a father, grandfather, friend, minister, or writer, I am God’s beloved child.
That truth changes everything.
2. “Friend of a Wounded Heart”
The Gift of Healing
Life leaves scars.
Some wounds come from the choices we make. Others come from losses we never chose. The death of loved ones, broken relationships, betrayals, and shattered dreams can leave marks on our hearts that remain for years.
Wayne Watson’s “Friend of a Wounded Heart” speaks to those hidden places within us. It reminds us that God is not repelled by our brokenness. Instead, God draws near to it.
Jesus often appeared most present among those carrying wounds.
The song invites us to stop pretending we are fine and to bring our pain honestly before God.
Healing begins when we stop hiding.
3. “The Love of God”
The Gift of Grace
If there is one truth that has become increasingly clear to me over the years, it is this: God is love.
Not merely loving.
Love.
The hymn “The Love of God” attempts to describe something that ultimately cannot be measured or contained. God’s love is greater than our language, our theology, our fears, and our failures.
As I have journeyed through different denominations and traditions, I have come to believe that every genuine spiritual path eventually leads back to this central truth.
God’s love is larger than we imagine.
When we understand that, fear begins to lose its grip.
4. “There Was Jesus”
The Gift of Presence
Looking back over my life, I can now see moments when I felt completely alone.
I felt alone after my father’s death.
I felt alone after the loss of my daughter Amanda Joy.
I felt alone after my divorce.
I felt alone during seasons of questioning and spiritual reconstruction.
Yet when I look back now, I see something I could not see then.
There was Jesus.
This song beautifully captures the experience of discovering God’s presence in hindsight. What seemed like abandonment was often companionship I simply could not recognize at the time.
Many of us discover God’s fingerprints only after the chapter has ended.
Faith often grows through looking backward as much as looking forward.
5. “Home Free”
The Gift of Hope
Pilgrims are people on a journey.
The destination matters.
The Psalmist sang about Zion, the city of God. Jesus spoke of redemption drawing near. The Book of Revelation envisions a holy city where tears are wiped away and death is no more.
Wayne Watson’s “Home Free” reminds us that this life is not the final chapter.
For Christians, hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is confidence that God is bringing creation toward restoration and wholeness.
As I grow older, this song speaks to me in ways it never did when I was young. It reminds me that every step of the journey matters, but it also reminds me that the journey is leading somewhere.
We are headed home.
The Pilgrim’s Song
Taken together, these five songs tell a story.
“You Are Mine” reminds us that we belong.
“Friend of a Wounded Heart” reminds us that we can heal.
“The Love of God” reminds us that we are loved.
“There Was Jesus” reminds us that we are never alone.
“Home Free” reminds us that we have hope.
That sounds very much like the Gospel.
And perhaps that is the song every pilgrim is learning to sing.
As we travel the winding roads of life, may we remember the promise of Christ: Lift up your heads. Your redemption is drawing near.
Keep walking.
The road leads home.
The Curious Pilgrim 
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