I had to learn that when you’re writing a song, you have to serve the work. You have to remember that the God the song is about knows more than you do about songwriting. Your agenda should be broad: “Let this song be a light in someone’s darkness. Let this song bring you glory, Father. Use it to lead someone home.” Then let the song suggest itself to you. Discover it. Fumble around in the dark room, feeling for the shape of it. Don’t use your agenda to bully it into being. And when you realize it wants to go somewhere you didn’t intend, let it. Be willing to trash the rest of the song (or the
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