"How He Loves"

"How He Loves" is a very well-known and well-loved worship song, and has been particularly meaningful to me recently. Unfortunately, not too many people know about the circumstances surrounding this song's creation, and I think the story adds significant depth to the song. Here it is!

First off, you should know that it was written by John Mark McMillan, NOT the David Crowder*Band. A woefully low number of worship music listeners are aware of this, as the song was made popular with the circulation of DC*B's cover. In fact, to this day I have never heard any of John Mark McMillan's recorded versions on the radio. (BTW, I have many problems with the radio, and discrepancies like this are only one of them. My general dislike for the radio will serve as the subject matter for at least one, probably many, future post(s).)

So, John Mark McMillan wrote this song shortly after one of his best friends died in a car crash. He was frustrated and angry, and in his words "needed to have a conversation with God." As he tried to process his agony through music he created this beautiful celebration of God's love that we sing in churches across the nation today.

There's actually a third verse to the song that is far too personal for any worship leader or cover band to sing. On the first recording of the song (I think the only one in which he includes the third verse), McMillan actually breaks down and cries. I'm sure he could have recorded it once without crying, releasing it this way was definitely a conscious choice, don't lose sight of that. Regardless, my favorite line from this verse says "people try to tell me You're cruel // But if Stephen could sing he'd say it's not true." I think you'll agree that such sentiment is quite powerful, especially coming after such tragedy.

Lines like "all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory" and "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us" certainly take on more meaning with context. Moreso, the entire great song with its great poetry saying "God loves us so so so soooo much," having been written on the worst day of his life, showcases a very pervasive and inspiring faith. Resilient joy that endures despite negative circumstances, as John Piper said in his last sermon from his pulpit, is THE thing the world needs from the church.

The song would be awesome and worth singing if it was written and sung from a mountaintop. Unfortunately, the fact is that many people who walk into worship are not going through a mountain, but rather a valley. These are truly beautiful lyrics to sing in such times, celebrating a love that is at once beautiful and unfathomable.

The act of looking beyond tragedy and seeing God's steadfast love through it all that this song represents has always been powerful to me, and now with a recent loss of my own to keep in mind, it has become that much more personal and poignant.

Anyway, it's a great song. Here's a link to the original recording I referenced above. Give it a listen! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0luHiWwi08


We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.

-"How He Loves" by John Mark McMillan