What a strange time we are living in. I think most or all of us have never considered canceling in-person worship even once for sickness, much less for weeks.

As we consider how to help our congregations worship in the coming weeks, I’ve made a list of hymns for fearful times – hymns of comfort, of faith, of community, and sometimes even of despair.

From the 98 Hymns for Fearful Times, I’ve pulled two shorter lists.

First, the top fifteen hymns in the general theme (chosen as particularly relevant or very familiar – an important consideration as we think about leading singing through livestreams and prerecorded videos).

Second, five hymns that are especially focused on our ability to “worship in spirit and in truth” no matter where we are, no matter if we are worshipping in-person or remotely.

Personally, I’m posting hymns from the top fifteen list to my church’s social media account on a daily basis (all youtube videos). And I’m using one hymn from the second list, “We Are the Church,” in our remote worship until we are back worshipping in-person again.

I hope you find these hymn lists useful as you plan and that you find some comfort yourself as you give comfort through music to the congregation you serve.

Thanks especially to everyone who helped me crowdsource these hymns!

Top Fifteen Hymns for Fearful Times

  1. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
  2. Abide with Me
  3. Be Still My Soul
  4. Blest Be the Tie that Binds
  5. Don’t Be Afraid
  6. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  7. Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah
  8. How Firm a Foundation
  9. If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee
  10. It Is Well with My Soul
  11. Jesus Still Lead On
  12. O Christ the Healer
  13. O God Our Help in Ages Past
  14. O Love of God, How Strong and True
  15. Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Five Hymns for Churches Worshipping Remotely

  1. Blest Be the Tie that Binds
  2. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
  3. Jesus, Where’er Your People Meet
  4. The Church’s One Foundation
  5. We Are the Church

98 Hymns for Fearful Times: The Complete List

The following hymns span denominations and geographic regions, so what is appropriate for each congregation will vary. I think of this list as a way to jog our memories about the wonderful hymns in our collective treasury.

Information about the following hymns can be found at Hymnary.com unless otherwise noted. In addition to the following list, you may also find Hymns in Times of Crisis, a free resource from The Hymn Society, to be useful.

  1. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
  2. A Shelter in the Time of Storm
  3. Abide With Me
  4. All My Hope on God Is Founded,
  5. All the Way My Savior Leads Me
  6. All Will Be Well (Through the Love of God Our Savior)
  7. Amazing Grace
  8. Be Not Afraid
  9. Because He Lives
  10. Be Still My Soul
  11. Blest Be the Tie that Binds
  12. By Gracious Powers
  13. Calmer of the Troubled Heart
  14. Children of the Heavenly Father
  15. Come and Find the Quiet Center
  16. Come Thou O Traveler Unknown
  17. Comfort, Comfort Now My People
  18. Count Your blessings
  19. Courage Brother, Do Not Stumble
  20. Day By Day
  21. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
  22. Don’t Be Afraid
  23. Eternal Father, Strong to Save
  24. For All the Saints
  25. From Depths of Woe (Out of the Depths)
  26. God of Day and God of Darkness
  27. God of Grace and God of Glory
  28. God Moves in a Mysterious Way
  29. God Will Take Care of You
  30. God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
  31. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  32. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
  33. Have No Fear, Little Flock
  34. He Leadeth Me
  35. He Will Hold Me Fast
  36. Healer of Our Every Ill
  37. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands 
  38. His Eye Is on the Sparrow
  39. Holy Spirit, Come with Power
  40. How Can I Keep From Singing 
  41. How Firm a Foundation
  42. How Great Thou Art
  43. I Am with You (here)
  44. I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
  45. I Need Thee Every Hour
  46. I Sing As I Arise Today (St. Patrick’s Breastplate)
  47. I Want Jesus to Go with Me
  48. I Would Be True
  49. If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee
  50. In Christ Alone
  51. In God, My Faithful God
  52. In the Cross of Christ I Glory
  53. In Thee Is Gladness
  54. In the Garden
  55. In Times Like These
  56. It Is Well with My Soul
  57. I’ve Got Peace Like a River
  58. Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting 
  59. Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land
  60. Jesus, Lover of My Soul
  61. Jesus, Priceless Treasure
  62. Jesus Still Lead On
  63. Jesus, Where’er Your People Meet
  64. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
  65. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
  66. Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart
  67. Master the Tempest Is Raging
  68. My Faith Looks Up to Thee
  69. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock)
  70. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
  71. Nearer My God, to Thee
  72. Never Alone
  73. Now Thank We All Our God
  74. Nothing Can Trouble (Nada Te Turbe)
  75. O Christ the Healer
  76. O God Our Help in Ages Past
  77. O God of Earth and Altar
  78. O Love of God, How Strong and True
  79. Peace in the Midst of the Storm (here)
  80. Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
  81. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
  82. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
  83. Shelter Me, O God
  84. Standing on the Promises
  85. The King of Love
  86. There Is a Balm in Gilead
  87. There’s a Wideness In God’s Mercy 
  88. This Is My Father’s World
  89. ‘Til the Storm Passes By 
  90. ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
  91. You Are Mine
  92. We Shall Overcome
  93. We Who Would Valiant Be
  94. Weary of All Trumpeting
  95. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
  96. When My Heart Is Torn Asunder (here)
  97. When the Storms of Life Are Raging (Stand By Me)
  98. Will Your Anchor Hold in the Storms of Life 

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