Fawn's Music

ARISE!: Listen now
(4 min, 6 mb)

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The Story of Arise!

I wrote the song Arise! in 1992 when I was going through some deep sadness. Driving in the car I was praying and the prayer turned into a song scribbled on an envelope. It became the cry of my heart and a source of hope. The words of Scripture ministered to my wounded soul and God healed as only he can. In those days, music was my expressiong of faith. Singing was my gift.

Eventually, the words and music were stored away in my piano bench, a sweet memory of God's faithfulness and comfort in a dark time. Years past. A cyst had formed next to my vocal chords. Doctors said removal would be dangerous and the lump might even return if I had it taken out. I packed away my guitar and put away my music books. While I asked God for a miracle, years passed and I thought I'd never sing again.

But I could not be silent. The prophet Jeremiah understood, "But if I say, 'I will not mention Him or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I'm weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." So I started teaching and writing Bible Studies. If I couldn't sing, I had to talk.

In May of 2007, I was preparing a lesson on the sovereignty of God for my weekly class and remembered a song I used to sing. Expecting my voice to crack like it always did, I still hummed a few bars in the car. My voice held steady. Putting my hand to my throat I felt for the familiar lump of fluid. It was gone. Could it be?

That next morning, I woke up at 5:30 to be alone, to see if it was true. I brought out my favorite guitar and strummed the strings. Cautiously I began to sing. It wasn't the voice I'd once had. But it was clear and strong. Charlie came into the living room weaping. The Lord had sovereignly healed my voice. All my old music came out of hiding. And in a stack of scribbled notes on yellowed staff paper I read the words, "Hide me in the cleft of the rock..." Fifteen years in a piano bench, for "such a time as this."

That week I shared the song with our church worship leader, Sheryl Meyer. Sheryl added her gift for arranging and choir direction. The next week we performed Arise! in all four services at church. I watched as hundreds of people were moved by the words and music. That August, our live recording of Arise! won a national songwriting contest.

So here it is for you. May God bring healing and comfort to your weary soul. And may you find strength in His Word until you see Him Arise!.