Daniel Doss ‘Praise The King’

Written by: Laura Chambers (2/27/2017)

Are you struggling to understand the season you’re traveling through? When every attempt to begin the life you desire ends in failure, you may be tempted to stop trying. You wonder if you heard God’s promises correctly, or if He heard your prayers at all. It may not even enter your mind that this is a time of testing, a time for faith. Blinded by what is not happening now, you doubt a breakthrough will ever come. But for every story of waiting and wondering, there is an answered prayer, an unexpected blessing. While it may not appear that way at first, God has something far better for us than anything we asked for.

Daniel Doss’ experience is a good example; infertility and adoptions that fell through broke him and his wife. It was in that brokenness where they discovered mercy, a plan beyond their comprehension, but well within His control. Praise The King speaks of lessons learned through a struggle no one asked for, joy unearthed from the burial ground of hopes deferred.

“Praise The King” rallies us to unite around Jesus, lifting powerful praises because all things are possible in Him. When we worship Him sincerely, His power is unleashed in our lives. We are blessed to bring Him praise even when we seem to have little reason to do so. We already have the larger victory, so small defeats should be seen in this context. Doss gives voice to the joy and release we can know by praising the Lord. With a message of comfort and acceptance, “Belong” embraces the sinners and broken-hearted alike, welcoming them to the cross .We are invited to bring our sorrows and gladness alike as offerings. Such a love should be the hallmark of the church; receiving all and rejecting none. The cross becomes home for those who come together under the blood of Christ. “Light Rise Up” asks God to remind us that His grace overpowers our weaknesses, and calls Him to display His light and love gloriously. The song also prays for our own hearts to be touched by the plight of the lost, so much so that our love makes them long for the hope God has given us.

“Trust” comes before God drained of all resources, uncertain how we’ll  last. Every time we look to Him, He shows us past examples of His faithfulness. We can face the days ahead by remembering that He supplies every need. “You Hold It All” recognizes God as a source of strength and safety. He secures us even when we traverse the darkness; everything is in His hands, whatever may come. We were incapable of carrying our own burdens, so He took them upon Himself. With a steadfast hymn-worthy rhythm that evokes God’s faithfulness, this song’s peaceful mood will bring solace to listeners. Featuring guest vocals by Harvest Parker, “Anchor” rolls like the tides that attempt to break the titular object’s grip on the rocks. God moors our souls firmly in place so we won’t float away on every tide that tries to sway us. “Roots Run Deep” fights against the instinct to pull away from the Lord, affirming that it’s these moments when we need to come closer to Him. Doss compares himself to grass that blows in the wind but is ultimately established in God’s solid ground. The song’s bridge throws off all hesitation and bows unashamedly before Him, celebrating His majesty and holiness.

“Stained Glass Window” contrasts past victory with present failure, asking God to do again what He did before with all the debris; make something beautiful that would be impossible otherwise. It’s a song that carries personal meaning to Doss and his wife, Emily, who survived great disappointment in their struggles to grow their family before ultimately adopting two children. The chorus paints a striking image of beauty that eclipses the pain which birthed it:

‘Cause we’re making stained glass windows
Every piece a different shade
All broken and then put together like a big mistake
But when the light shines through the colors form a tapestry
A hundred different images of how
You keep loving me

“Victorious” celebrates the creations of God and His victories in battle, bringing Him praises and sacrifices. This high energy war cry never loses sight of His glory, worshipping as only those delivered from evil can. “Brother Comes Home” connects the unforgiving spirit of the prodigal son’s elder brother to our own hypocritical sinful natures. We have a choice; we can love as we’ve been loved, or reject others only to be rejected ourselves. It’s a sobering warning to everyone who passes judgment rather than showing grace. We’ll all have to give an account of our choices on the final day, and since nobody but God knows when it will come, we must be ready.

It’s asking a lot of us to continue trusting when everything we hoped for is slipping away. Before we can suspend our doubts, we need to remember who we’re trusting in and all that He is capable of. Praise The King’s songs affirm the faithfulness of God with timely reminders of the past, hope for the future, and a small dose of self-correction – a bit of a kick in the pants to get us back on track. Daniel Doss may not have all the answers, but he relies on the God who does, seeking the explanation where possible and being satisfied with God Himself where none are provided.

3.8/5