Come Weary Saints Now Available

After months of planning and recording, Come Weary Saints, the latest project from Sovereign Grace has been released.

At the Sovereign Grace Music site we say that “Come Weary Saints is an invitation to redirect your focus to the God whose love has been forever demonstrated at the cross of Calvary.” The CD contains twelve songs, mostly written with a congregation in mind, that reference our trials and suffering in a genuine but redemptive way.

In his book, The Wages of Spin, Carl Trueman wrote an article called “What Can Miserable Christians Sing?” He warns:

“A diet of unremittingly jolly choruses and hymns inevitably creates an unrealistic horizon of expectation which sees the normative Christian life as one long triumphalist street party — a theologically incorrect and a pastorally disastrous scenario in a world of broken individuals. Has an unconscious belief that Christianity is — or at least should be — all about health, wealth, and happiness silently corrupted the content of our worship?”

While God doesn’t call us to corporately wallow in our sin, weakness, and suffering, I often wonder if Christians can view any acknowledgment of struggles when we’re together as inappropriate or awkward. We’ve produced this project as part of an attempt to fill that gap. But you won’t find a lot of slow and dreary songs here. In fact, the further you get into the project the more exuberant and faith-filled the songs become. We’ve tried to highlight the faithfulness of God in the midst of trials, present or yet to come. Here are some sample lyrics:

In Your grace, You know where I walk
You know when I fall, You know all my ways
In Your love, I know You allow
What I cannot grasp to bring You praise
Thank You for the trials, for the fire, for the pain
Thank You for the strength, knowing You have ordained
Every day
(by Todd Twining and Joel Sczebel)

Come, hopeless hearts, do not despair
Hide away in the love of Jesus
For ten thousand joys await you there
Hide away in the love of Jesus
(Steve and Vikki Cook)

It is not death to close the eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears
Oh Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die
(Orig. words by Henri Malan, addl. words by Bob Kauflin)

The initial response to Come Weary Saints has been encouraging. One woman ordered twelve copies to pass out among women whose husbands have been serving in the military overseas. Another individual wrote:

Walking alongside my sister during her struggle with cancer has taught me wonderful truths about God’s sovereignty and grace. This newest CD that you have produced has been an incredibly kind gift that reminds me of truth about God. Every song is encouraging, uplifting and comforting.

We pray that God in his mercy would use these songs in public worship or personal listening to encourage and strengthen those for whom the Savior died.

You can listen to samples, find sheet music, and purchase a CD or download at the Sovereign Grace Music website. The CD is $12 ($10 for 5 or more) and a download is $9. You can also download a free song, I Have a Shelter, here.

You can check out a review of Come Weary Saints at Skeuos.

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6 Responses to Come Weary Saints Now Available

  1. Marshall May 1, 2008 at 12:19 PM #

    This CD and it’s God-ward lyrics has been ministering hope and joy to my soul. These songs place suffering in the context of God’s sovereign love and point us to find Christ as our prize and treasure. THANK YOU to anyone who had a hand in it!

  2. DOchoa May 1, 2008 at 4:05 PM #

    I am studying Worship in college now and a very big part of it covers the trials pass through that form us into the Christian we are wo that we can experience the Joy, peace, happiness, etc. which are the Fruits of the Spirit which we all crave as Christians. Way too many artists touch only on the happy points and too few on the journey there and for someone like me, it is refreshing to hear that there are artists out there who have climbed up from the bottom with the Lord’s guiding hand!

  3. KaiB May 3, 2008 at 6:55 PM #

    This sounds like a CD full of great lyrics full of lyrics that help truly lead a congregation before the throne of God. Christians definitely are prone to sugarcoating their spiritual condition and only focus on the happy things about faith. It appears that it isn’t the case with the CD for this song. Thanks for being concerned with putting forth an honest portrayal of our faith and relationship with God through these songs!

  4. HannahT May 4, 2008 at 11:35 PM #

    All too often Christians put on their happy face and try to hide their imperfections. I know I am not the only one struggling and/or hurting.

    So many people connect with music and song lyrics; it is refreshing not only to hear someone admitting that life isn’t perfect, but also providing some powerful songs to aid in bringing the hurting to the throne.

  5. Tony Konvalin May 9, 2008 at 8:44 AM #

    I just received Come Weary Saints and have already listened to it numerous times, actualy it is playing right now. While I enjoy the music and the singing is as usual great it is the words that I most appreciate. All too often songs are sung that have minimal if any foundation in scripture and if they do it is relatively shallow. Dealing with the topic of weariness and struggle was a wonderful concept. The Christian life is so much more than it is often portrayed and I thank you for dealing with this in Come Weary Saints.

    Again thanks for this album.

  6. Mike Chen May 25, 2008 at 8:56 PM #

    Dear Bob,

    Just listened to the CD earlier today. I have the privilege of serving besides Tamara Baker on the worship team here at SG Cleveland and I wanted to let you know that I love it. God really used it to minister to my soul. I’m also currently also enjoying your book- it is helping me grow as a worship leader. I thank God for your work and look forward to going to the Worship God conference in July!

    take care,
    Mike

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