From Hardship to Hope

,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

Romans 8:18 

Albert Brumley had been working since sunrise, and he felt every minute of it. His back ached. His hands were raw. His mind ran in circles, weighed down by worries that had nothing to do with the field in front of him. The country was in crisis, people were struggling, and the work never seemed to end. 

He exhaled hard and pressed his palm against the plow. Lord, how much longer? 

That was when he saw it—a bird lifting off the fencepost. One beat of its wings and it was free, soaring higher and higher, carried by nothing but the wind. 

Something deep in his chest cracked open. That’s what I want. To be lifted. To escape this heaviness. 

He knew he wasn’t alone in feeling this way. He saw it in the faces around him—people carrying more than they could bear, pushing forward because they had no other choice. But what if there was something greater waiting beyond all of this? What if one day, every burden would be lifted? 

That longing didn’t leave him. It stayed with him as he worked, as he walked, as he hummed a tune under his breath. A song was forming. 

By the time he got home, he was writing as fast as his hands could move. That simple song—born from sweat and struggle—would go on to bring comfort to millions. It would be sung in churches, at funerals, in quiet moments when hope felt far away. 

Because it wasn’t just a song. It was a promise. 

Some glad morning, when this life is over 
I’ll fly away 
To that home on God’s celestial shore 
I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory 
I’ll fly away 
When I die, hallelujah, by and by 
I’ll fly away 

If your heart is tired, if the weight feels too much, remember this: it won’t last forever. God has prepared a place where every burden is lifted. Hold on—because on the horizon, joy is coming. 

 

LYRICS

Some bright morning when this life is over
I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away

CHORUS:
I’ll fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away, in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah by and by
I’ll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone
I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly
I’ll fly away

CHORUS

Oh, how glad and happy when we meet
I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I’ll fly away

CHORUS

Just a few more weary days and then
I’ll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I’ll fly away

CHORUS:
I’ll fly away, fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away, in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah by and by
I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away

/by

Hope and Victory in Jesus

,

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

The doctor’s words cut deep. “You will never fully recover.”

The stroke had left Eugene Bartlett weak, unable to travel, and unable to play as he once had. Music had been his life’s work—his way of sharing the gospel—so this news was devastating.

What was a man supposed to do when the thing he loved most was taken away?

At first, the grief threatened to crush him. But slowly, something else rose up—something stronger. Hadn’t he always believed that Jesus was enough? That victory wasn’t in having a perfect life but in knowing a perfect Savior?

He had watched war-torn families cling to that truth. He had seen broken men find hope when nothing around them changed. And now, it was his turn to live what he had preached.

If he could no longer stand before a congregation, he would find another way to share the truth. If he couldn’t sing, he would write.

And so, with unsteady hands, he put pen to paper. The lyrics flowed from his heart like a battle cry. It was a song of triumph in the face of suffering. He had victory in Jesus, and that was the truth.

Maybe you feel like you’re fighting a battle you can’t win. Maybe everything you counted on has changed. But the victory Eugene wrote about is not just for the strong. It is for the weary, the broken, the ones who are barely holding on. It is for you. Right now.

O victory in Jesus
My Savior, forever
He sought me and He bought me
With His redeeming blood

He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

 

LYRICS:
Chorus
Oh victory in Jesus
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

Verse 1
I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning
Of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sin,
Christ won the victory!

Verse 2
I heard about His healing
All His miracles revealing
That He alone can save a soul
And set the captive free
I’m happy in His promise
How soon He’s coming for us
And home with Him I’ll sing again:
Christ won the victory!

Verse 3
I’ll tell the old, old story
Till my Savior comes from glory
I’ll tell of all the Lord has done
To set this sinner free
That all who will believe Him
By Faith can still receive Him
And share in that redemption song:
Christ won the victory!

Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)
Words and Music by E.M. Bartlett, Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty

/by

A Deeper Experience of God

, ,

“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!”

1 Chronicles 16:9

Darlene Zschech had always loved leading worship, but this was different. God’s presence felt closer than ever. Every time she opened her Bible, every moment of prayer, every song she sang—it all felt alive in a way she could not explain.

She was not the only one feeling it. Her church leaders had noticed a shift. People were desperate for more than just another song. They wanted to know God in a way that was personal and transformative.

So, when Darlene and the worship team met, they kept circling back to the same question: How do we lead people into a deeper experience of God?

They did not want to write songs that just filled a setlist. They wanted to create something that made space for real worship—something that could be sung in living rooms, in cars, and in quiet moments alone with God.

That night, as Darlene sat with her guitar, she let go of all expectations. She was just worshiping and pouring her heart out before God. And as she lifted her voice, the words and melody began to form together.

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name” 

What happened next took her breath away. The song “Shout to the Lord” did not stay within her church. It spread like wildfire. Because people everywhere—no matter their denomination, their background, or their struggles—were desperate for the same thing: a real encounter with God.

Maybe you are, too. Maybe stress has dulled your joy, and you are longing for something to break through the noise. Worship is not about singing; it is about surrender. It is about lifting your eyes and letting your heart remember who He is.

Right now, in this moment, will you worship?

 

Lyrics
Verse 1:
My Jesus
My Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

Verse 2:
My Comfort
My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath
All that I am
Never cease to worship You

Chorus 1:
Shout to the Lord
All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name

Chorus 2:
I sing for joy
At the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You
Forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to
The promise I have in You
—
‘Shout To The Lord’
Words & Music by Darlene Zschech
© 1993 Hillsong Music
CCLI #: 1406918

/by

Turning Pain into Hope

, ,

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Romans 5:3-4

Eliza hated the silence. Her life had always been so full of movement and things to do. She spent her days teaching, writing, and serving others. But now, all of that was gone.

The injury had taken it from her.

She lay in bed, her body aching, her spirit restless. The days felt unbearably long, and the quietness stretched on. At first, she fought against it. She asked the same questions over and over: Why me? What now? Where are you God?

But as the days passed, she started to read her Bible. This was not the casual kind of reading for passing the time. No. She was desperate.

And in those long, slow hours spent in the Word, she saw things she had never noticed before. Words she had once skimmed past now felt alive. Promises she had memorized now felt like they were written just for her.

She knew she was not just surviving this hardship—God was doing something in it.

One day, she found herself humming a song she had started writing before the injury. It was just another project back then. But now? The words meant something. It went like this.

“When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!”

She had never clung to heaven like this before. She had never needed to. But now, her hope in Jesus felt different. Stronger. More real.

When she finally released the song, it spread like wildfire. People who were hurting and searching found something in those words—something bigger than their pain.

Eliza Hewitt would have never chosen this hardship, but looking back, she saw it clearly. Her pain had not been wasted. God turned her silence into a song of hope, and it was too valuable to keep to herself.

That’s the thing. Sometimes, the greatest good that comes out of our hardship is what we are called to give away. Could it be that the very thing you are wrestling with is the thing that someone else needs to hear?

 

/by

A Song of Hope in Fear

, , ,

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

Pam e-mailed her story to us, and when I read it, I felt the weight of it—the fear, the waiting, the desperate need for something to break through the anxiety.

I know that feeling. Maybe you do, too. This is what she said:

“I had already beaten cancer once, and I thought I was done with this fight. But then the cough started. 

At first, I told myself it was nothing. But when weeks passed, then months, I started to wonder. I visited the doctor, and he ordered some tests. 

The X-ray was taken, but the weight of the unknown pressed heavier on my chest than any illness ever could. As I left, I climbed into my car, silent, and braced for the worst.

Then, through the radio, Lauren Daigle’s voice broke through, singing, ‘You’re going to be okay.’ Tears spilled down my face. In that moment, I wasn’t just hearing a song—I knew I was hearing directly from God. 

Twenty minutes later, my phone rang. No sign of cancer! Relief washed over me, but something deeper settled in. The fear had been so real, but, I realized, so was God’s presence. 

Even before I knew the results, the healing had already begun. Because in my fear, in my waiting—God was already there. And He used this station to remind me.” 

Wow! Pam’s story is powerful because it’s real. And it is not just her story—it is all of ours. The fear, the anxiety, the nights spent wondering how much more we can take.

But God meets us there. And sometimes, He does it through something as simple as a song on the radio.

That is why this matters. Because of you, someone else will turn on the radio at just the right moment and hear exactly what they need.

Your generosity makes this possible. You are part of stories like Pam’s, and because of you, there will be more—more hope, more reminders that God is near, even in the fear.

Thank you for making that possible!

 

/by

There is Power in the Blood

,

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Ephesians 1:7

Lewis Edgar Jones had spent years doing all the right things. He worked hard. He was faithful to his church and prayed when he could. And yet, beneath it all, something felt … hollow.

It was not that he doubted God, but deep down, he wondered: Where is the power?

Not just talk. Not just tradition. He needed to know if faith had the power to change things. Could it really reach into the mess of his life and do something about it?

But this week, at the yearly camp meeting, he felt it.

He had not expected to weep the way he had or to feel so undone. But in the presence of Jesus, something deep within him cracked open. Hope had pressed its way back into his heart, alive in a way he had not felt since he was a boy.

But Jones knew revival was not just about what happened here. He thought of the people beyond this place—his coworkers, the folks in the town square, and the families at his church.

His heart ached for them because he knew the question they, like him, were too afraid to ask: Is this real? Can Jesus actually do something in my life?

Yes. A thousand times yes.

The blood of Jesus had changed him. It had given him a hope that no effort, no good works, no routine religion ever could.

So he reached for a scrap of paper and began to write a song. “Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood.”

That night, he sang it softly to himself. It was more than a song. It was a testimony.

Years later, crowds would sing it in unison, and today, that same power still reaches out. To you. To all who long for something real. You do not have to stay the same or figure it out on your own. Come to the One who has never lost His power.

Come to Jesus.

“There is power, power, wonder working power 
In the blood of the Lamb 
There is power, power, wonder working power 
In the precious blood of the Lamb”

 

/by

You Are Safe in His Everlasting Arms

, ,

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Deuteronomy 33:27(a)

Elisha’s chest ached. He was supposed to be writing encouragement for his Christian publication, but how could he encourage when the war had stolen so much?

Outside, the world was moving on—shops opening, carriages rolling by—but when he closed his eyes, he saw the families left in pieces.

He had read their stories in letters, seen it in the eyes of his friends. Mothers burying sons.  Young men burdened by memories too painful to speak out loud.

He exhaled slowly. “Lord, what can I say?”

His worn Bible lay open beside him, and a familiar verse stared back at him:

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” 

A lump formed in his throat. “Yes, Lord. That is the truth they need.”

He set his editorial aside. This needed to be something different—not just words of encouragement, but a song for weary hearts. And as he wrote, the words came effortlessly:

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms; 
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

“Let them feel it, Lord,” he prayed. “Let them know they are not alone.”

And somehow, they did. “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” traveled beyond his study, slipping into homes, churches, and hearts that needed it most. It carried people through storms and became a melody of comfort when they felt like falling apart.

And now, here you are.

Maybe you, too, have been living through suffocating grief or trauma. Maybe your heart is weary from carrying the weight alone.

But you are not alone. There is a love stronger than your pain, arms that will never let you go. No matter what has been lost, no matter how uncertain tomorrow feels, you can rest in the unshakable truth that you are loved by God.

Will you let yourself be held today?

 

/by

Raw Worship, Real Faith

,

“Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!”

Psalm 96:9

Rich Mullins was the kind of guy who showed up to concerts barefoot.

He was not trying to be a rebel—this was just who he was. He couldn’t pretend.

That honesty did not always sit well in the Christian music industry. People wanted polished radio hits and predictable melodies. But Rich’s songs did not fit. His lyrics were jagged prayers, full of doubt, struggle, and desperate longing.

He was disillusioned by what the industry told him to be. Faith, for him, was not about tidying yourself up for God. It was about being raw and honest about a messy life while clinging to a perfect Savior. Were people finding God in all of this, or settling for something shallow?

It felt too clean, too put together. He was not sure he believed in that kind of faith. Jesus had calloused hands. He sat in the dirt. He wept, raged, bled. That was the Savior Rich wanted to sing about, and if it did not sell? Fine. He was tired of worship that felt like a performance.

So he wrote like he prayed—messy, unfiltered, honest.

One day, he scribbled out “Our God is an awesome God.” It was not a masterpiece. It was not even his favorite song. But he meant it.

Somehow, the song caught fire. People sang it in churches and youth groups. It belonged to the brokenhearted, the tired, the messy believers who needed to remember that God was still mighty and still good.

But if you asked Rich, he never saw the song—or his music—as a success story. Success was not standing on a stage. It was not record sales or industry approval. It was a life lived honestly before God. A worship that was not a performance but a hallelujah rising from the dust.

And maybe that is the real takeaway. Worship is not about looking good or sounding right. It is about showing up—barefoot, broken, unsure—and offering everything you have, knowing God is worthy of it all.

 

RICH MULLINS
Awesome God Story

Rich Mullins’ Awesome God is one of the most beloved anthems in contemporary Christian music, known for its simple yet powerful declaration of God’s greatness. Written in the late 1980s, the song was inspired by Mullins’ deep reverence for God’s majesty and his desire to create a song that would stir people to worship. The verses paint vivid images of God’s power and justice, while the chorus triumphantly proclaims, “Our God is an awesome God!”—a line that has echoed through churches and worship gatherings for decades.

Interestingly, Mullins himself once said, “You know, the thing I like about ‘Awesome God’ is that it’s one of the worst-written songs that I ever wrote; it’s just poorly crafted.” But he went on to explain that sometimes, the message is more important than the craftsmanship. Rather than focusing on crafting the perfect song, he wanted to write something that would make people respond—not to the song, but to the truth of who God is.

That’s exactly why Awesome God has endured as a church anthem. The melody is easy to sing, making it perfect for congregational worship, while the lyrics are a bold reminder of God’s sovereignty and grace. Even though Mullins was known for his poetic and often introspective songwriting, this song stands out as a direct and universal declaration of faith. It’s a song that unites believers, young and old, in a shared moment of praise—one that continues to resonate in hearts long after the music fades.

Awesome God
COMLETE LYRICS TO SONG

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain’t just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)

There’s thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn’t joking
When He kicked ’em out of Eden
It wasn’t for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)

He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)

Judgment and wrath He poured out on the Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that you have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

/by

Be Known by Love

,

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

The camp hall was alive with the sound of teenagers sharing their thoughts, struggles, and deepest questions. Their bell-bottom jeans brushed the floor; a girl with a braided headband tucked her knees to her chest.

A lanky boy with thick-rimmed glasses blurted out what everyone was thinking. “If love is supposed to fix everything, why does it feel like nothing changes?”

Their youth pastor, Peter Scholtes, had been listening from the back. As he stepped toward the wooden podium, he took a breath. He had no easy answer.

Outside the retreat, the world seemed fractured beyond repair. Tensions flared in the streets, communities splintered over ideologies. Even the church was not immune to the division. These teens carried that weight with them, and their confusion mirrored his own.

“I think,” he said slowly, “that the kind of love most people talk about is too small. But the love God calls us to? That’s the kind of love that can change everything.”

Hours later, after the teens went to bed, Peter sat alone in the makeshift chapel. The dim lights flickered, and the hum of cicadas filtered through the windows as he thought about their questions.

What could he give them—something that pointed to a love stronger than hate? He wasn’t trying to solve the world’s problems, but he felt compelled to give them something enduring. Pulling out a notebook, he began to write:

“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord 
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored 
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” 

The next morning, as the group sang the new hymn, the room seemed to change. Their voices wove together in a harmony that felt like hope.

Today, that same love still has the power to speak into the confusion and disillusionment of our lives. When the world feels too divided, too harsh, or too broken, remember that love is not passive. It is active, deliberate, and often sacrificial. Where can you choose to show that kind of love today? Who in your life needs to see God’s love through you?

 

 

/by

This is My Father’s World

,

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 4:11

The world outside never seemed to stop turning, but here, by the lake, the world felt still. Maltbie Babcock moved slowly along the path, breathing in the scent of pine and earth.

He glanced out over the water and thought of the people he had passed in town earlier. Their faces, lined with worry and fatigue, spoke of burdens they could not lay down. In the whirlwind of a rapidly changing society, many were asking what the future held.

The world beyond the lake seemed so complicated, so fractured. Yet here, by the water’s edge, he saw a different truth. Creation was telling another story.

A heron took flight across the shimmering surface, its wings spread wide in perfect, effortless grace. Wildflowers burst with color as leaves rustled gently in the trees. Each detail whispered of a love that wasn’t hurried or uncertain but constant and intentional.

Maltbie slowed his pace. His breathing steadied as he let the scene before him speak. “This is God’s world,” he thought. “Even with its aches and uncertainties, it still belongs to Him!”

He paused to sit on a rock by the shore, pen in hand, and began to write a hymn:

This is my Father’s world: 
I rest me in the thought 
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas— 
His hand the wonders wrought. 

And it is still His world, even now. Perhaps today, when you step outside and feel the breeze against your skin or watch the sun set on the horizon, you can be reminded of the same truth. God’s love is woven into every corner of His creation, and His love reaches deeper than any worry.

 

/by