Took a few weeks off of posting for the holidays, but we are back in full swing with this week’s Christian Music That Doesn’t Suck Monday! This week we are looking at “Satisfied in You” by The Sing Team.
The Sing Team is a band (sadly) no longer making music due to the dissolution of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. But before exiting the scene of indie-contemporary Christian music, they left us this gem. “Satisfied in You” is a rendition of Psalm 42, written by the mysterious “Sons of Korah”. It is a hymn of sadness, depression and hope in a God who is sovereign over our darkness.
Why it doesn’t suck: Wrestling with depression is difficult. Sometimes it is like a thorn in our thumb; it hurts, but we see the problem, and though it is painful, we know how to fix it. Other times, however, it hurts like a silent virus; we can’t put to words what is wrong, all we know is it hurts and we don’t know what will make it better. There are few things more scary to feel sadness, and be unable to answer someone when they ask “what’s bothering you?” The Sing Team masterfully weaves the reality of the weight of depression into this haunting, yet hopeful song. I highly recommend reading the Psalm before, while and after listening to the song. They capture the pain that the psalmist is struggling to convey, beautifully. This song, and Psalm 42, teaches us that whatever the cause of our depression, obvious or mysterious, remaining silent about it, or acting like it isn’t there doesn’t help. This Psalm teaches us three things:
(1) The psalmist pours his hurt out before God, pleading for the Lord to restore His joy. “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
(2) The psalmist preaches to himself, rather than listening to himself. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me. Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
(3) The psalmist sees this moment of darkness as being sovereignly brought into his life by God, Himself. “All your breakers and your waves have gone over me.”
“Satisfied in You” captures these three truths masterfully, weaving them all into the reality of the Gospel. Through intense suffering, Jesus Christ atoned for our sins in order to reconcile us with God. If He was willing to go through that, we know that He loves us, and desires good for us (Rom. 8:28-32). We may not understand it, but we trust that God knows more than we do and He loves us, so we trust Him, even through the storm. Others may mock and chide our faith when times of suffering and sadness come our way, but the God who satisfies our souls in plenty and want (Phil. 4:11-12) is a life boat, when we feel like we are drowning.
And a flood is welling up behind my eyes
So I eat the tears I cry
And if that were not enough
They know just the words to cut and tear and prod
When they ask me “Whereʼs your God?” Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your face to me
As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I survey Your splendor, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh
When Iʼm looking at the ground
Itʼs an inbred feedback loop that drags me down
So itʼs time to lift my brow
And remember better days
When I loved to worship you and learn your ways
Singing sweetest songs of praise
Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about your faithfulness
Let my pain reveal your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is you
So when Iʼm drowning out at sea
And all your breakers and your waves crash down on me
Iʼll recall your safety scheme
Youʼre the one who made the waves
And your Son went out to suffer in my place
And to show me that Iʼm safe
Why am I down?
Why so disturbed?
I am satisfied in you
Marc Sims 
Marc, love the title, “Christian Music That Doesn’t Suck.” Say it like it is. And I really like this song too.
This song brought me to tears and some deep reflection…
I have also suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts….