Once again, Casting Crowns has released a truth-professing album filled with songs that will uplift any listener’s spirits. With songs such as “Who Am I” and “Voice of Truth” already being aired, KAMB is thrilled to introduce Desert Road to our listening family. As the latest hit from the album, Healer, Desert Road stays true to Casting Crowns’ nature and powerfully encourages believers as they pursue God’s will.

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns is a household name for anyone who considers themselves an avid listener of CCM. In 1999, Mark Hall—founding member and a lead singer/songwriter—originally wanted to use the band to reach youth during his time as a youth pastor. However, after signing a recording contract, Casting Crowns became an established presence in Christian music on a large scale. Over the last two decades, Casting Crowns has released 12 albums, received 17 Dove Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 2 Billboard Awards, and 1 Grammy. The band has also successfully encouraged fellow believers worldwide through their music while balancing their church responsibilities at home.

The band’s latest album, Healer, was written during the initial stretch of COVID-19. Much like the title suggests, Casting Crowns’ focus with this album is Jesus as Healer. During a time of global uncertainty, Hall wanted to write songs that reflected our circumstances and God’s Truth. Still working as a youth pastor, he found common stories of lost experiences, connections, and friendships abounding within teenage lives. As he began writing the lyrics for Healer, he discovered a unifying thread of healing between each song. Thus, when Casting Crowns released the album, the reminder of who God is in our lives struck home. It’s for that album that Desert Road was written.

Desert Road

Casting Crowns boldly describes the struggle of following God’s unexpected (and even undesired) plans in our lives through their new song, Desert Road. Many of us can recall times of great blessing in our lives. Times when God healed a loved one, provided a job promotion, or delivered us out of hardship. However, many of us can also recall times when God set us down a path that we didn’t ask for. Paths that ask us to trust Him in the face of death, tense relationships, and other unforeseen changes. Listeners who have been down such troubled paths will likely resonate with the lyrics in Desert Road.

Every word of Desert Road speaks to our uncertainty and God’s faithfulness. We hesitate, we question, we feel afraid. But God is always on the other side of what He’s called us to, waiting for us to trust Him. In the second verse of the song, Casting Crowns sings “I was doin’ the talkin’, but now I’m listenin’ / This is where my hope is found / Knowin’ life is hard, but You’re still with me”. Often, the initial reason for our resistance to God’s plan is our unwavering focus on what we want. Instead of listening to God’s voice and letting Him lead us, we try to control the length of our obedience. In fact, sometimes we even go so far as to become disobedient. And yet, as believers, we know that the greatest blessings come when we follow God’s will. Desert Road is a reminder of that promise. Casting Crowns uses this song to sit with fellow believers in their emotional reality while also encouraging them to hold onto their hope in our faithful God.

“When we can’t see the plan, we start wondering if there even is a plan. Sometimes He calms the storms and sometimes He rides them out with us. We have to learn how to let go of how we feel and learn to lean in to Who we know.”

Mark Hall

Official Lyric Video of Desert Road by Casting Crowns

Take a few minutes and listen to Desert Road while you’re here!

Lyrics

I don't wanna write this song
I don't want this pain to be my story
I don't want this desert road
Are You sure this is the plan that You have for me?
Out here in the dust and clay
God, if there's a bigger picture
It's gettin' hard to see today
But I know that You won't leave me here
I don't know where this is goin'
But I know who holds my hand
It's not the path I would've chosen
But I'll follow You to the end
Lord, as long as I am breathin'
I will make Your glory known
Even if it means I'm walkin' on this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
On this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
You got my attention now
I was doin' the talkin', but now I'm listenin'
This is where my hope is found
Knowin' life is hard, but You're still with me
I'm not out here on my own
You are close to the broken-hearted
'Cause You've already walked this road
And You're gonna finish what You started
I don't know where this is goin'
But I know who holds my hand
It's not the path I would've chosen
But I'll follow You to the end
Lord, as long as I am breathin'
I will make Your glory known
Even if it means I'm walkin' on this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
On this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
As you lift my head, I see
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
So many desperate souls in need
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
I'll walk with them as You walk with me
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
You're the livin' water to the thirsty
I don't know where this is goin'
But I know who holds my hand
It's not the path I would've chosen
But I'll follow You to the end
Lord, as long as I am breathin'
I will make Your glory known
Even if it means I'm walkin' on this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
On this desert road
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
So many desperate souls in need
(Where You lead me, I will follow)
I'll walk with them as You walk with me
(Where You lead me, I will follow)

Related Scriptures

Mark 14:32-36 Jesus struggled with his impending death but ultimately obeyed God the Father’s will.

Job The entire book of Job is filled with the suffering he faced, yet he did not lose his faith in God.

There are many other examples throughout the Bible where God called His people down paths they didn’t want. A couple of longer examples include Abraham and Sarah’s struggles to have a child and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  

Conclusion

As you listen to Desert Road, pay attention to the direction Casting Crowns wishes to lead us in. The lyrics reflect the real-life struggle of accepting and following God’s will, but they also point us to God’s faithfulness. Rather than allowing ourselves to wallow in the misery of losing our plans, we should celebrate in knowing that God has the best plan. Neither Casting Crowns nor KAMB wish to dismiss the reality you may be facing, but we do wish to remind you of who God is. He is our Healer and our Good Father. As believers, we can confidently lean into these promises as we pursue His will ahead of our own. Even if you’re traveling down your own Desert Road right now, God is still good and He is always faithful.

In addition to Desert Road, you can hear other songs from Casting Crowns and different artists here at KAMB. You can also find other listening options on our Ways to Listen and Where to Listen pages.

Sources

To find out more about Casting Crowns, you can click here. To visit the band website, click here! To find Casting Crowns on social media, use the links below.

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