The Story Behind the Song Shout to the Lord

Some of the most moving songs of praise are often birthed from times of despair. Such was the case with “Shout to the Lord.” While going through a difficult time and desperate for the peace of God, Darlene Zschech sat down at her old piano, the same one she’d had since she was five years old. She turned to Psalm 96, and without setting out to do so, she penned one of the Church’s most well-known praise songs in about 20 minutes.

Though she had been writing songs since her teens, Darlene never considered herself a songwriter. And it was with trepidation that she shared the song with her church. But the response was immediate and the song quickly traveled around the globe, giving believers new words to express their hearts to God.