To Make God Our Song

The words of Isaiah 12:2 were familiar to me, but their meaning was not.

“Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.”

What do we actually mean when we say ‘God is my song’? It’s easy to dismiss without reflection. As is so often the case with God’s word, there is treasure for those who stop and meditate. Consider what a song does to us?

A good song doesn’t just sit in the background. It animates us, lifting our mood almost without permission. It pulls our thoughts into its story and colors the way we see the world. When I listen to an iconic, joy-filled song—say, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams—I cannot help but smile. It is a wind at the back of my emotions. My shoulders loosen, my smile grows, and my whole mindset shifts, elivened and animated.

A good song also moves our feet. Without thinking, we tap or sway, or wash the dishes to the specific rhythm and inflection of the song. The melody doesn’t ask—it simply draws us in and sets our steps.

God is Our Song

When Isaiah says, “The Lord… is my song,” he isn’t referring to a song about God. His meaning is so much deeper. He’s talking about God himself, and he is using metaphorical language. Isaiah desires that God would be the melody that animates his lives—and our lives by extension. This is not a song we choose from a playlist, but the Song who chooses us—who sets our rhythm, lifts our hearts, shapes our thoughts, and moves our steps.

May God himself be the Song that carries you today.
May his Spirit enliven your heart, reshape your outlook, and draw your step into his grace.

Trust in the Lord and do not be afraid.
He is your strength and your song.
He will become your salvation.