Shout to the Lord — Carol McLeod Ministries

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is sharing voices that inspire and uplift with both passion and purpose. Today, I’m honored to introduce you to Darlene Zschech—a worship leader, songwriter, pastor, and woman of unwavering faith. Best known for penning the global anthem Shout to the Lord, Darlene has spent her life pointing hearts to Jesus through music and ministry. Her leadership, authenticity, and deep love for God empower believers to live a life of worship—every day, in every circumstance.

When I look back at that very precious season of my life when “Shout to the Lord” was written, I recall that though it was a season that required me to dig very deep wells in God, it was also full the best things in life. And digging Jesus wells is always so wonderful in the end, as they take time and intentionality.

Back then, our girls were little and playful and wonder-filled. Since being a wife and mum was and is my greatest dream, these were days I treasure with my whole heart. In many ways, the busy season of parenting young kids forces you into a simplicity and a rhythm that brings so much joy to life that it’s hard to describe.

The day I wrote “Shout to the Lord,” as I sat at my very old and out-of-tune piano in a tiny little hallway of our home, even though circumstances in our lives at that point were less than ideal, with my two precious daughters running and playing around me, the presence and kindness of God met me in the moment. The lyric “Nothing compares to the promise I have in you” is still the line that gets me undone, as it is as true today as it was back then.

If I am super honest, I am not great at speaking well “in the moment.” I always need time and space to gather my thoughts into ways that makes sense to the listener. And writing has always given me a way to at least try to give voice to things that rumble around inside my heart and mind. And that was the gift of that day: setting time aside to pour out my heart before God, and Him meeting me with His presence. I literally just sat playing and worshipping and singing out the Psalms and God’s promises over our lives.

Shout to the Lord

All the earth let us sing

Power and majesty

Praise to the King

Mountains bow down

And the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands

Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand

Nothing compares to the promise

I have in You

How do you go with believing God’s promises over your life?

Every year, Mark and I try to pull out every prophetic word that has been spoken over us, our girls, our family, and our church. And yes, it is a lot, but what it does within us is help us remember God’s mighty voice and promises over our lives. We also do a little “stock take” to see if there are areas where we are maybe a little out of alignment with where we feel God is leading us. Maybe this is something you can begin in your life. You are worth it.

I have many journals filled with Scripture, promises, notes, and reminders. Being a Christian for over forty years and following a speaking God, there has been a lot to listen to. Sometimes I have to discipline myself to get off YouTube and Insta so I can fill my heart and head with the things the Lord has already spoken to my heart. I must choose to welcome His Word to shape me, rejecting the opinions or experiences of others who try to tell me where I am going or who I am.

Can we trust God’s plans? Can we trust His promises? Even if what we experience feels nothing like how we thought God would answer us? If we truly can trust Him, then we can yield to His will, and that is where the glory of God’s promises begins to unfold.

Excerpted from Testament © 2025 by Darlene Zschech. Used by permission of David C Cook. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.