My favorite Christian artist in my 20s was Steven Curtis Chapman, hands down. I still remember driving almost an hour to get to my teaching job – singing “Love You with My Life” at the top of my lungs. Then, the year I got married, belting out, “This is the Great Adventure” as I drove to my first few prenatal appointments. I’m pretty sure I had every single one of his albums, and we went to several concerts over the years.

Anybody with me?

I just downloaded his brand, spankin’ new album, The Glorious Unfolding. My kids looked at the cover and said, “Wow, Mom. That guy is OLD!”

Jeepers. I thought he looked mighty good. But yes, I guess he’s old compared to a 13 year old. And then, so am I.

You know what that means?

It means we’ve been around the block a few times and discovered that life on planet earth takes its toll on a person.

It means we understand a little more clearly that when God says “life is a vapor,” He wasn’t kidding.

It means that heaven looks more and more inviting with each passing year – and each fresh grave.

I think that’s why I loved this album so much. It’s not the idealistic, bee-bopping music and lyrics of 20 years ago (although that was perfect for me at the time.) Instead we’re getting songs about the reality of life with all of its heart-wrenching disappointments and unexpected surprises sandwiched between the hands and the heart of the Living God.

It’s not an album bemoaning the miseries of our brief lives, although it faces those hard places head on. No. This album is packed with joy. 

How can this be? How can we look to the heavens and sing in the storm? How can we say, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him?” (Job 13:15)

I know some of you are hurting. And if you aren’t hurting this week, you’ll be hurting around the next corner of your life. Have you ever looked out a window and begged God to tell you what to do next? Have you ever cried out to Him that you’re not sure you can keep moving? That you have no strength left? That you wish it was over?

Most of us have probably been there at least once in our lives. Music has always helped me. What about you?

I wanted to share the whole album, because I love every single song. But I forced myself to pick my top two. The ones that give me goosebumps. Here’s hoping you’ll get some goosebumps of your own.

Cuz goosebumps feel good.

Here’s the title track, The Glorious Unfolding.

The Glorious Unfolding

Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding

We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning

Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding

Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)

And here’s Take Another Step. This particular video is kinda corny, but it was all I could find on YouTube at the moment since the album is so new. I’m sure more people will post better options as time goes by.

(Jeepers, I hope the person who made this doesn’t see that and feel bad. HEY! If you are the person who made this video and you are reading this, I give you points for being the first person to do this song on YouTube. A thousand kudos to you. Thank you, thank you. It’s not really THAT corny – just a teensy bit corny. And corny can be really good sometimes. Yes sir.)

OK, let’s put that behind us now. Here’s the video:

Take Another Step

Well the band was playing, the flags were waving
And there you were
In the middle of a sunny day parade
The crowds were cheering, the sky was clear
Not a worry in the world
Marching on sure and steady, strong and straight
Take another step and another step and another step

Then the lightning flashed the thunder crashed
And suddenly
It began to rain and everybody ran
Then the sky went black as midnight
And you couldn’t see
Paralyzed by what you just can’t understand
And now here you are
You’re afraid to move
You don’t know where to go
You don’t know what to do

Take another step, take another step
When the road ahead is dark
And you don’t know where to go
Take another step, take another step
Trust God and take another step
And another step and another step
Take another step and another step and another step

We walk by faith and not by sight we know it’s true
We say it and sing it and love the way it sounds
But none of us can even begin to truly understand
What it really means ‘til all the lights go out
And there we are nothing to hold on to
But the promises God’s made to me and you

Take another step, take another step
When the road ahead is dark
And you don’t know where to go
Take another step, take another step
Trust God and take another step

If there’s an ocean in front of you
You know what you’ve gotta do
Take another step and another step
Maybe He’ll turn the water into land
And maybe He’ll take your hand and say
Let’s take a walk on the waves
Will you trust Me either way
And take another step
Take another step

Take another step
Take another step
Trust God and take another step
Take another step
When the road ahead is dark
And you don’t know where to go
Take another step
Take another step
Trust God and take another step
And another step and another step
Take another step and another step and another step
Take another step and another step and another step
Take another step and another step and another step

I’m telling you. I just get chills.

And by the way, there are zero affiliate links in this post. I was not given a free album for my review (wouldn’t that be nice though?) It’s just little-old-average-Wemmick-me paying for an album like anyone else, downloading, listening, loving, and sharing.