A Song of Hope in Fear

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“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!

 

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There is Power in the Blood

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“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”

 

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You Are Safe in His Everlasting Arms

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“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?

 

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Raw Worship, Real Faith

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“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

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Be Known by Love

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“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?

 

 

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This is My Father’s World

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“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.

 

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Let Jesus Hold and Heal You

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

Deuteronomy 33:27a

Lauren Daigle’s song “Hold on to Me” played softly in the background. As it did, the melody pulled me into a memory—the hardest season of my life.

I was in so much pain back then and did not know what to do. One day, someone in a support group suggested, “You should try handing your pain to Jesus.”

Desperate for relief, I decided to give it a try. Later that day when I was alone, I closed my eyes, whispered, “Jesus, take this pain from me,” and waited.

But nothing happened. The pain was still there, unchanged and unbearable.

When I shared my frustration with a friend, She offered a perspective that shifted everything. She said, “You don’t hand Jesus your pain. You let Jesus hold you and heal your pain.”

So, the next time I prayed, I asked, “Jesus, will you hold me?”

In that moment, something remarkable happened. My heart was met with a love so kind, so perfect, and so present that I could not help but weep.

Day after day, I returned to Him with the same simple request: “Hold me.” And every time, His peace came like a river. What surprised me most was how tenderly He met me in the places I had hidden, wounds I thought were beyond healing.

His presence became my refuge—a safe place where I could fall apart and start again. It was not instant or easy, but it was real.

Now, when I hear that song, I am reminded of how steady and healing His love is. If your heart feels shattered, please ask Him to hold you. I pray you will find the peace and healing you have been longing for all along.

 

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How He Loves Us

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“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

Grief can drown you—or it can carry you to love you never knew existed.

It began with a phone call—a moment that shattered John Mark’s world. His best friend Stephen had been in a car accident.

Just hours earlier, Stephen had prayed with fiery passion, asking God to reveal His love to others. It was a prayer for revival, for hearts to be changed. Now, he was gone.

The questions came in waves, relentless and unanswerable. How could someone so alive, so full of faith, be taken so suddenly? How could such a vibrant Christian’s life be cut short?

The loss was suffocating, like a wave that refused to break. So, John Mark let the tears fall and began to write a song.

“He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree.”

The song “How He Loves” was never meant to leave his room. It was John Mark McMillan’s way of processing the unthinkable. Yet, when the song began to spread, people were drawn to its honesty. It reminded them that God’s love is vast, unshakable, and personal, even in the hardest moments.

If your heart feels heavy today too, lean into this truth: God’s love is big enough to carry you, even now. Do not let go of it—it will never let go of you.

 

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