The Resource Hub Hymns God will make a way (website only)

God will make a way (website only)

Theme:: Gathering in God's Presence
Theme:: Nature and Mystery of God
Theme:: Our Journey with God
Hymns on StF+:: Hymns only online (submit to stfplus@methodistchurch.org.uk)
Authors & translators:: Muriel, Colleen (auth)
Composers & arrangers:: Muriel, Colleen (comp)

pillar-of-fire-paul-hardy Verse 1

God will make a way where there is no way,
He will be our rock and our fortress;
He will be our strength and shield,
guide us through the storm;
God will make a way.
We believe that.

Refrain (vv.1-3)

God will make a way,
God will make a way;
When there is no way,
God will make a way.
We believe that.

God will make a way,
God will make a way:
When there is no way,
God will make a way.

Verse 2

God will make a way where there is no way,
He will be our light in the darkness;
and he will deliver us
from our enemies;
God will make a way.
We believe that.

Verse 3

God will make a way where there is no way,
He will be our refuge and save us;
He will be our hiding place in
in a troubled world;
God will make a way.
We believe that.

Verse 4

God will make a way where there is no way,
out of fear, despair, pain and bondage;
leading through the wilderness,
into life through death;
God will make a way.
We believe that.

Refrain for v.4 (optional)

God has made a way through the blood of Christ;
Holy Lamb of God, perfect sacrifice.
We believe that God has made a way
through the blood of Christ;
Holy Lamb of God, perfect sacrifice;
perfect sacrifice;
perfect sacrifice.

Download words and music (PDF)

Listen to piano accompaniments:

Version 1 (YouTube)
Version 1 (MP3)

Version 2 (YouTube)
Version 2 (MP3)

Ideas for use

Colleen describes “God will make a way” as a cross between a traditional hymn and a worship song. It is published here in its two different versions (see above), with the difference in the two alternatives being in the way they end. “So pick what you like”, Colleen says.

She also includes some helpful performance notes suggesting ways of making both some rhythms and the accompaniment a little easier in places.

However, you use the music, the melody (added character by its minor key) is catchy and has a strong element of repetition, which makes it both easy to pick up and also underscores the tone of encouragement in the words.

More information

Colleen says that “God will make a way” was written in response to a call for new hymns for a Christian conference that had taken as its theme: “And Jesus says. . . all things are possible to him who believes”. The words are taken from a miracle story in which Jesus heals a young man with leprosy (Mark 9: 23-4): “Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (See Beverley Jones's quite different reflection on these word from a stricken father - We would believe: Lord, help our unbelieving (website only).)

“I felt that the best way to faith (belief)”, says Colleen, “is to think about what God has already done, which is immense. I used examples from the journey and trials of the Children of Israel in the Old Testament as a starting point.”

In particular, Colleen’s words allude to the many stories of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, with God as their guide – not least to their escape from the Egyptians through the Red Sea, and the presence of God experienced in pillars of cloud and fire, pictured above (Exodus 13: 17 - 14: 31).

Verse 1 draws specifically on Psalm 18 (“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold”). Other echoes can be found in Psalm 46: 1-3 and in the confidence of the prophet Micah that the Lord will be a light to him. Despite hard times, and the speaker’s recognition of their own wrongdoing, they still maintain confidence in their belief that God “will bring me out to the light; I shall see his vindication”. (Micah 7: 8-9)

colleen-muriel Colleen Muriel

Colleen has had a varied career as a composer and flautist, both in her home country of Canada and in the UK. Her compositions and arrangements cover a wide range of styles and are written for diverse ensembles. Here on StF+ we have talked with Colleen about her interest in making new settings of older hymn texts and her attraction to older language (reflected here in the male imagery for God). See Making old things new.

Colleen is a member of Women in Music UK, the Canadian League of Composers, and a number of other professional organisations. Her church music is represented by CCLI and Song Solutions.

Colleen's hymns and collections are available at http://hymns-colleenmuriel.ca/. They are available as free downloads or you can purchase the sheet music.

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