Highlands

2 min readJul 25, 2020

Last year, I found an anthem to add to my list of anthems.

But really, Highlands(Song of Ascent) by Hillsong United pulled me out of a dark place. I didn't even know how deep I had fallen into that dark hole till I found light in the words of this beautiful song.

I’ll praise you on the mountain and I’ll praise you when the mountain is in my way…

I mean who says such except one who has understood, and is constantly aware that God’s goodness is not determined by experiences but by a track record of his never-changing nature. God is good by nature, the idea of goodness is derived from Him, that’s why he called all that he had created good( just imagine an exceptional artist calling his work exceptional. It’s only natural he names his grand works after an attribute found in him after all).

Cause In the Highlands and the Heartache, you’re neither more or less inclined. I will search and stop at nothing, you’re just not that hard to find

No less God within the shadows, no less faithful when the night leads me astray. You're the heaven where my heart is, in the Highlands and the heartache all the same.

These words, were like reviving water for my parched soul. I felt pulled at multiple ends, with no idea how to share my struggles( I normally find it so hard to voice my woes and fears). So many expectations put on me by many people, so much required of me and in all this, the only things I could see were my very apparent shortcomings. I had a desire to just be free of all the burden and start afresh maybe? Ha! As if that would happen.

And when I was ready to give up and just throw in the towel on everything. My dreams, family, friends and even ministry, I found myself being resuscitated by these beautiful words. God is in the Heartache as much as He is present in the victories on the Highlands.

Highlands is a song I have written on my heart (like Oceans, P E A C E, No Longer Slaves,)

And a fun fact is I initially paid rapt attention only because I've had an obsession with Highlands and Hills for as long as I can remember.

I hope you find life and light in this marvelous composition.