Darst continues, “On the first day of the retreat, we wrote ‘If the Lord Builds the House’ and ‘Give You the Glory,’ and I knew something had shifted. I felt God renewing my passion for songwriting and once it all started to click, I couldn't stop. More and more songs began to come, even for several months afterward.” Be sure to check out the music video for the title track below. 

 

If the Lord Builds the House came to life and includes songs written both by Darst and her longtime collaborators Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes, Andrew Holt, Ethan Hulse, Jason Ingram, Sarah Reeves, and Casey Brown. In addition, there are new collaborations on this project with Austin Davis, Reuben Morgan, and fellow artists David Leonard and Jon Reddick. Leonard co-wrote, produced, and is featured on “Give You the Glory,” and Reddick joined in on a new version of “If The Lord Builds The House.” 

 

“I wrote my first album, Peace Be Still, over the span of five years and it was one of the most rewarding times creatively for me and we made music that I am incredibly proud of," she says. "This time around, it was a wildly different experience, one that stretched me and pulled new things out of me. I had to dig deep for these songs and in the end, I am so glad that I did because I'm equally proud of this project and excited to share it with everyone." 

 

She concludes, "I hope when people hear these songs they hear what I know to be true of God in every season. His name is a firm foundation that cannot be torn down. His name has the power to change anything. He alone deserves the glory. His name is sweeter than honey and more than enough. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is faithful and never, ever fails to show up.”

 

Hope Darst lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, David, and their two daughters. She is a Fair Trade Services recording artist and also serves as a worship leader at The Belonging Company.

 

For more information, visit her website, HopeDarst.com