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"Gentle" by Andrew Macdonald: Finding Grace in Life's Hardest Moments


(by Jasper Tan) Have you heard of any heartfelt song lately that elaborates on the pain, yet the yearning for healing feels so heart-wrenching? Andrew Macdonald's latest song, "Gentle," feels just like that. In what seems like a conversational piece with someone, the song actually is a prayer yearning for God's grace and healing. The lush sound of the acoustic guitar, coupled with the heartfelt delivery of the vocals, delivers a certain kind of sincerity wherein Andrew pours his heart out to Jesus. It is very seldom to hear songs wherein the singer cuts through our emotions just enough for us to feel an affinity to his pleas. And Andrew's outreach for help through prayer is something that really cuts through our own pains when we are in those moments of vulnerability while we deal with our own issues.

Andrew Macdonald - GentleThough the song starts off as a sad song and the lines that are delivered feel so gloomy and hopeless, the song makes a stark change for the better when it starts to turn to the Lord. The song's melody is carried by its gentleness as it is written from the heart. The soft violin meanwhile comes to a point where it brings the joyful mood of the song as the individual begins to make the turn, and senses the gentleness through prayer.

It's a joyful moment that is worth celebrating, as Andrew sings about surrendering to the Lord, yet also asking for a little kindness, a little meekness, and a little gentleness, as when we are dealing from a place of hurt and pain, the wounds are still fresh. I believe these moments when we are vulnerable and at our lowest point, being able to feel it all with all its rawness and surrendering them to God, bring us to a place of comfort and healing where we are able to fully capture and feel the presence and the beauty of God's grace and love for us.

(Related scripture: Matthew 11:28-29; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 40:29)

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