The Privileged Life: Gratitude…When Life Is Played in a Minor Key

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5)

I’m one of those weird people who always have music playing in their heads.

Songs are programmed into my brain cells as if they’re records in a jukebox—they play in the background of my brain all day long. I prefer hymns, but the music is usually random. Right now, a Bach piece is looping, but it could just as easily be Elvis, Aerosmith, Celtic Woman, or Veggie Tales. I carry my own Spotify in my head!

Music has mathematical elements to it. On a piano, there are 12 notes in eight-note scale sequences that repeat several times. Each note—A through G (with sharps and flats)—represents a different key signature, and each key signature has at least one “major” and one “minor” format.

We typically think of the major chords as happy, while minor key combinations are sad. Think Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” vs. Chopin’s “Funeral March.” (Banjo bluegrass is one of those oxymorons where the music is happy and the lyrics are tragic….)

Most of the time for me, my life music is upbeat. I rock along on the major notes, with an occasional dip down into a minor tone…which always makes the major moments seem even happier when they return.

I especially love the beautiful music of the holidays—the joyful hymns of Thanksgiving praise, the bell-ringing carols of Christmas, and the quiet songs of peace.

But there have been seasons when all the major notes fall flat for me, when their lilting melodies grate on my nerves. Do you have those times, too, when only minor-key songs will do?

Perhaps you’re in one of those seasons. That seems to be the situation of the psalmist who wrote Psalm 42. The heading says “A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah,” words that were perhaps penned for musical accompaniment, as many of the psalms were.

Read through these words, and you could imagine them set to mostly minor keys. The verses lurch in segments from laments to praises to God, from despair to hope. They repeat the theme that the author’s soul is “cast down” and “disquieted.” Sounds like depression to me.*

Maybe that’s where you are right now. The approaching holidays offer no joy, no uplifting tunes for you.

If so, go back through Psalm 42, and see where the Holy Spirit leads you.

The author compares his soul to a thirsty deer, panting for living water. He says his tears have been his food day and night. He remembers the joy of past celebrations. He is overwhelmed with the sorrows and sadness suffocating him. He is reproached by his enemies…he believes God has forgotten him.

There are so many times in our lives when this message is the theme song of our hearts. But the psalmist does not remain there. He does not linger to wallow in the wasteland of self-pity. Neither should we.

We have a mighty God, and He never forgets us. His Holy Spirit is with us every moment, every day, every breath, every heartbeat. He is our Rescuer when life is discordant and dissonant.

In this psalm and so many others, God speaks His message of hope—that we will yet praise Him for His help, for shining the light of His countenance upon us. He commands His lovingkindness to us in the daytime. He sings us to sleep when we rest in Him. He invites us to pray because He hears us. He is the God of my life and yours.

When you find yourself unable to handle the cheerful notes of the holidays, go to a quiet place. Hold out your hands, and lift up your prayer to God for His joy to return to your soul. Lay all of your pain, grief, and despair on His altar as an offering to Him. Ask Him for the gift of being content and thankful in whatever trial you face. Trust Him with the outcome.

When you do, the background music of your soul changes. He invites you to listen to the glorious “music of the spheres”—His captivating melody of grace for you. I pray you will hear every single note of His love song this season.

Lord, I come to you thirsty for Your presence, love, and living water. Too often I have tuned You out, fearing that You have abandoned me in my suffering. But, O gracious God, You remind me in Your word that You will never leave me. Please refresh my soul with Your beautiful love song, that I may join the chorus of the saints in singing praises to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #thanksgivinghymns #Christmascarols #songsofpeace #majorchords #minorchords #majorkey #minorkey #musicofthespheres #holidaymusic #backgroundmusic

*Note: If you are suffering from long-term sadness, seek guidance and counseling from your physician and Christian family counselor for treatment…you might need their assistance in helping lift you out of clinical depression.