The Healing Power of a Song

Sep 27

Written by Diane .

Music is from the Greek word mousikē, meaning an art presided over by the Muses. Webster’s International Dictionary defines music as the science or art of incorporating pleasing, expressive, or intelligible combinations of vocal or instrumental tones into a composition having definite structure and continuity. This definition is quite generic and static, not nearly expressing the multi-faceted and prolific nature of music. Words cannot adequately convey its boundless qualities. Being many things to most individuals, for some it can provide enjoyment, stir emotion, heighten romance, energize the body, document history, be a catalyst for change, strengthen social cohesion, or be a religious expression of worship.

A number of years back, I went through a painful divorce. I was treated very horribly by this person and suffered financially as a direct result of his unscrupulous actions. I frequently felt overwhelmed by profound anger toward this person. It kept me from moving on and was a drain on my happiness. Christian music is the genre that I tend to listen to most often and one day I heard the song The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham. The lyrics from this song are based upon Matthew 5:39 from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. It almost immediately changed my mindset and continues to reinforce this effect every time I listen to it. This started me thinking about the intense effect that music can have on our emotions.

In Psychology Today, Dr. Shahram Heshmat’s article How Music Affects Us Emotionally states, “Music can be used to create an emotional atmosphere such as calming, relaxing, playful, sincere, or intimate. These factors also explain an important emotional benefit of music for mood regulation.” There are scientific reasons why this is so. Allison Eck, in her Harvard Medicine Magazine article, How Music Resonates in the Brain, discusses why “tones and timbres” organized in certain ways influence our emotions. “The salience of these sounds – whether a person responds to them emotionally and motivationally – influences the autonomic nervous system (ANS), a network that controls certain involuntary processes like breathing and heart rate. The valence of the music, which signals whether the music feels positive, negative, or somewhere in between, influences the ANS, too.” Brain stimulation from music affects the hippocampus and amygdala, “which activate emotional responses to music through memory; the limbic system, which governs pleasure, motivation, and reward; and the body’s motor system.”

Stefan Koelsch, Professor of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway and author of the book Good Vibrations: Unlocking the Healing Power of Music, studies the significance of music as a tool for promoting mental well-being. In a recent issue of New Scientist, his article “Play On” speaks of some of his research. This research suggests that music can even “change the content of our thoughts.” We daydream for a significant part of our days. Whilst daydreaming is important for imagination, it can cause us to drift into repetitive, negative thought loops. During these times, the brain’s default mode network (DMN) is in control. His research also finds that the brain’s pain system kicks in as well. The DMN has a counterpart, the executive network. The executive network manages more goal-oriented and focused behavior. “And music, especially when we actively engage with it, can shift us into this more adaptive mode, …disrupt[ing] negative thought loops and giv[ing] our minds a cognitive ‘reset’.”

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 1 Samuel 16:23 In this verse, David used music to calm and soothe Saul, relieving mental distress and fear. Even in biblical times, the therapeutic nature of music was recognized. The “science” of music therapy began to appear in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Today, its value is widely recognized. Music has personally been very powerful in my life and I truly experience much greater mental stability when immersed in Christian music. Christian music therapy is a genre of music therapy. The article, Melodies of Mercy: How Christian Music Therapy Lifts Depression and Anxiety, describes it as, “a structured approach that uses worship songs, hymns, and faith-inspired music to promote emotional and spiritual healing. Unlike conventional music therapy, it integrates Scripture, prayer and reflection into the process, helping individuals connect with God while exploring their emotions.” It further states, “This combination addresses not just the mind but the heart and spirit, making it particularly effective for those facing depression, anxiety, and addiction-related challenges.”

Having experienced issues in my life with anxiety and depression, I can attest to the power of Christian music in harnessing my emotions. Spend some time finding music that engages you and speaks to what you are dealing with. Make yourself a play-list and listen to it frequently. The following are a few of the songs on my play-lists. Some of them speak to anxiety and depression and some are just great, feel good songs of praise.

Anxiety:

Things That I’m Afraid Of by Josh Wilson

Still Waters by Leanna Crawford

Lead on Good Shepherd by Patrick Mayberry

I Will Fear No More by The Afters

Peace Be Still by Hope Darst

Depression:

How Loved You Are by Josh Wilson

Breakdown by Andrew Ripp

Up + Up by Colton Dixon

I Believe You by Megan Woods

Be Alright by Evan Craft, Danny Gokey, and Redimi 2