The Top Three. That’s where we are in my list of the top country songs that have a Christian message.

Thus far, my ranked songs have been No. 10, Alabama’s Angels Among Us (Aug. 17); No. 9, Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn before they split up (Aug. 21); No. 8, When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley (Aug. 25); No. 7, The Little Girl by John Michael Montgomery (Aug. 29); No. 6, Watching You by Rodney Atkins; No. 5, Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis (Sept. 5); and No. 4, the actual impetus for the series, Beer with Jesus by Thomas Rhett, way back in October (Oct. 13).

Rodney Atkins is a repeater for my No. 3 pick, If You’re Going Through Hell.

Man, can I relate.

Well you know those times
When you feel like there’s a sign there on your back
Says I don’t mind if ya kick me
Seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You’d think they can’t get worse than that
And then they do …

We’ve all been there. Life sometimes has a way of beating us down. Our best plans get derailed. Our options are limited. We’ve been down to our last match and felt a hundred different demons breathing fire down our back.

Rodney Atkins gives us the way out …

But the good news
Is there’s angels everywhere out on the street
Holding out a hand to pull you back up on your feet
The one’s that you’ve been dragging for so long
You’re on your knees
You might as well be praying
Guess what I’m saying

If your going through hell
Keep on going, don’t slow down
If you’re scared don’t show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there

Yeah, If you’re going through hell
Keep on moving, face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there…

That’s a pretty powerful mantra. If you’re knocked to your knees you might as well be praying. Keep on moving. Face that fire. Walk right through it.

How can that song not inspire you?

To remind you of what this series is about, I enjoy country music. It can be raunchy and risque at times, twangy and bring out the best (or worst) of our redneck feelings {aw, come on, we all have them}. But, no matter what, it is always real — addressing real-life issues, warts and all. The country genre lyrics are honest, honest to goodness honest.

But at its root, the country music genre is a compilation of life in America — not the America of cities, but the rural America. It may have been born in the south, but its sound resonates in every state … even upstate New York. Despite its sometimes shortcomings, it buzzes with traditional American values — God, family and country. It’s not unusual to hear a country song with lyrics like “… five-card poker on a Saturday night, church on Sunday morning …” (Boondocks by Little Big Town).

Country music tells a story in less than five minutes, especially contemporary ballads. It’s the lyricist’s story … it’s the singer’s story … It’s your story … It’s my story.

And then there are those times when a country story just stops you in your tracks. Whenever you hear it, you make that connection with God. It returns you to communion.

So this series is about those country songs that have — at least for me — a Christian message.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Opportunities are seldom labeled.