Just as I hit puberty, a new television show lit up screens across America. My daddy especially enjoyed it. He seemed to connect with all the backwoods humor on a personal level because he had grown up a country boy. Before long, we learned all the characters, their silly skits, and those quirky songs that can still stay on repeat in our heads.
The “Hee Haw” song that stayed with me longest was sung by some scruffy good ol’ boys in overalls. It went like this: “Gloom, despair, and agony on me. Deep dark depression. Excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me.” (Now, try to get that tune out of your head!)
Imagine the hungry, thirsty Israelites singing a similar song while camped in the desert behind that pillar of fire. Even after witnessing God’s miraculous power and escaping Pharaoh’s clutches, they still bellowed, “Gloom, despair, and agony on me.” That song wasn’t just on repeat in their heads; they sang it out loud for 40 years.
We both know people, even Christian people, who’ve sung the same woeful songs for so long that their pillar of fire seems like a barely glowing ember. They’ve moved back closer to their old, familiar land of captivity and, as a result, pulled themselves away from the wonder of a new adventure in unfamiliar freedom. By dwelling on the world’s gloom, they miss God’s glory. They desire a happier song, but they don’t know how to find it.
I’ve been through seasons like that; most of us have at one time or another. Thankfully, those seasons pass when we discover new songs to sing. To find those songs, we have to be intentional about changing the station in our heads. The Word of God becomes our new frequency. It plays the songs we listen to over and over, as many times as it takes.
Next, we pay attention as our own voices repeat our complaints to the Lord. Identifying the sad songs is half the battle. That opens our ears to hear the Spirit’s voice. He speaks to our thoughts, reveals what we need to change, and always renews our hope.
Finally, we seek out those who’ve already learned the songs of freedom. They are the ones who cried out to God and waited patiently for Him to lift them out of the mud and the mire of a “pity-full” pit. They allowed God to set their feet on solid ground, giving them a firm place to stand. They are the ones who gladly and thankfully belt out the new song God gave them (Psalm 40). They want the whole world to know that God’s great love, mercy, protection, favor, and blessing can drown out any song Satan tries to sing over you. People like that make me want to turn up the volume!
God had personally sent Moses to deliver His children from Egyptian slavery. IF ONLY they had kept singing the song Moses sang after they crossed the Red Sea! (Exodus 15) Maybe their 40-year journey would have been short and sweet. IF ONLY the Israelites had listened to Joshua and Caleb’s scouting report and believed they could conquer all their enemies in the Promised Land! (Numbers 13-14) Maybe they wouldn’t have all died in the wilderness. IF ONLY those who followed Joshua into the Promised Land had kept singing the song Moses sang over them before he died! (Deuteronomy 32) Maybe they wouldn’t have needed all those judges to keep delivering them from worshipping other gods.
We read about the Israelites and wonder how they could have been so foolish. Then … we feel that check in our spirits. God personally sent Jesus to us to deliver us from the slavery of sin. But like the Israelites, we sometimes forget how much God loves us, how He wants the best for us, how eager He is to rescue us, and, most of all, how He replaces our songs of gloom, despair, and agony with joyful songs. All because He delights in us! Let’s tune in to His station in 2026 and listen to His new song.
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)
