Restless Is The Heart

"Restless Is The Heart" draws its profound refrain from St. Augustine’s famous confession: that our human hearts will always search and wander until they finally rest in God. Bernadette Farrell pairs this deep spiritual truth with the sweeping, reflective words of Psalm 90. The result is a gentle but moving piece that reminds the congregation of God’s eternal nature and our own fleeting time on earth.

In the choir loft, this piece requires a sensitive, unhurried approach. The refrain is sung by all, moving with a steady, comforting rhythm that feels like a quiet reassurance. The verses, often led by a cantor or a unison choir section, reflect on how a thousand years are like a single day to the Lord. We sing about the grass that springs up in the morning and fades by night, asking God to grant us true wisdom of heart.

Because of its themes of eternity, human frailty, and finding our ultimate peace in the Lord, this song is highly effective during the season of Lent or as a Responsorial Psalm. It also brings great comfort when used as a prayerful meditation at funerals, guiding the grieving to remember that all the earth shall eventually return to God.