The worship song that has become the anthem for the church during this season is the goosebump-inducing “The Blessing.” It has spoken truth to millions of tired and fearful hearts. And it has birthed melodic unity among churches around the world.
In March, Elevation Worship released the song featuring the vocals of Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes. As Kari Jobe introduced the song in the first live video, she said, “We got together with Pastor Chris and Pastor Steven on Thursday to just go in after the presence of God and try to pen lyric and melody. And after a couple of hours, it just felt like the presence of God just stopped everything. And we wrote a song called ‘The Blessing.’
“And it’s straight from Scripture, and it’s the heart of the Father over us as His kids. And we’re going to sing it this morning if that’s ok. This is the blessing over you and your family and your children. So just receive this this morning. Just put your hands out in front of you. Turn your heart to a place of just receiving the blessing of heaven from God Himself over you this morning.”
Millions of people have been doing just what Jobe asked: receiving, putting their hands out in front of them, turning their hearts to a place of just receiving the blessing of heaven from God Himself. Millions of people! The song has resonated as the anthem for these times.
“The Blessing” was written by Jobe, Carnes, Elevation Church’s pastor Steven Furtick and Elevation Worship’s Chris Brown. “The Blessing” is featured on Elevation Worship’s latest album Graves Into Gardens. After two months from its release March 6, views of the YouTube video of Elevation Worship’s new song stand at over 12 million.
Since its release, churches have united in different locations to record the song in isolation and then stitch together the pieces for heart-throbbing inspiration.
Elevation Worship released a global choir version of their recent hit “The Blessing.” The performance was recorded live from Elevation’s Ballanytne campus.
For Easter, 30 churches in Pittsburgh released The Pittsburgh Blessing | Virtual Church Choir.
“What started out as a crazy idea, turned into a powerful worship moment in our city. In less than 2 weeks, nearly 30 churches unified to sing a blessing over our city of Pittsburgh,” the video producers wrote on YouTube. “This video was revealed during many of the Easter online services in churches across the city of Pittsburgh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our desire was that it would be a blessing spoken over our homes and communities. Thanks to the many churches and individuals who made this happen. He is for you, Pittsburgh!”
Soon after that, 65 churches and ministries across the United Kingdom videotaped themselves singing along to the song “The UK Blessing.”
The Blessing UK producers wrote on YouTube, “At this unique and challenging time in the United Kingdom over 65 churches and movements, representing hundreds of others, have come together online to sing a blessing over our land. Standing together as one, our desire is that this song will fill you with hope and encourage you.
“But the church is not simply singing a blessing, each day we’re looking to practically be a blessing. Many of the churches included in this song have assisted with supplying over 400,000 meals to the most vulnerable and isolated in our nation since COVID-19 lockdown began. This alongside phone calls to the isolated, pharmacy delivery drops and hot meals to the NHS frontline hospital staff.
Our buildings may be closed but the church is very much alive!”
And the latest version comes from Hawaiian Islands Ministries who brought together 25 churches across all six major islands of Hawaii.
“There’s so much pain and discomfort in this state that I wanted to do a song through Hawaiian Islands Ministries that would bless people and encourage them,” said Dan Chun, pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
“The Hawai‘i Blessing” producers explain on YouTube that this is “a gift from the Churches of Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Blessing was recorded during the first week of May 2020 by worship leaders from 25 churches across all 6 major islands of Hawai‘i. During this time of sheltering-in-place, isolation and uncertainty about the future, we could all use a blessing and a sense of togetherness. In Hawai‘i, we call that ‘ohana – family.”
This anthem is based on Numbers 6:24-26:
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
In a time of fear and isolation, the words to this song have comforted hearts and given hope for today and future generations. The Lord bless you and keep you!
