The Untold Story Behind “God Will Make a Way” – Don Moen’s Journey of Faith and Hope

For many, Don Moen’s song “God Will Make a Way” has been an anthem of hope, particularly during times of crisis. However, the story behind this powerful song is rooted in personal tragedy, an experience that transformed both Moen’s faith and music.

Reflecting on the song’s origins, Moen shared that “God Will Make a Way” was not originally intended for a global audience. “I didn’t record it… I never wrote it to record,” he said. In fact, the song emerged from a desperate attempt to comfort his family. Moen explained, “I received one of those late night calls,” learning that his wife’s sister and husband had been involved in a devastating car accident in Texas, USA. Their van, carrying four young boys, was struck by an 18-wheeler on a journey from Oklahoma to Colorado.

Reeling from the news, Moen felt at a loss. “All the scriptures that came to my mind fell short,” he said, recalling his feelings of helplessness. On a flight to be with the grieving family, he prayed for words of hope, and while reading Isaiah 43, verses 18 and 19 struck him: “I’ll even make a roadway in the wilderness and a river in the desert.”

These verses inspired him to pen “God Will Make a Way” on that plane journey. Moen wrote the song not as a recording, but as a personal message of comfort. “I sang it for them privately,” he said, recalling the moment he first performed the song. He even encouraged his sister-in-law to “put this above your kitchen sink,” adding, “There are going to be days when you need to hear that God will make a way where there seems to be no way.”

Years later, when he shared the song with colleagues, it struck a chord. “Everybody came up to me that day and said, where did you get that song?” he recalled. Though initially resistant to recording it, Moen eventually did, and “God Will Make a Way” became one of his most beloved songs worldwide. The song, he said, “was written in a desperate situation, but it’s not a song of desperation. It’s a song of declaration. It’s a song of hope.”

Reflecting on the impact of hope, Moen believes that “hope is the engine that drives faith.” As he put it, “In those times, you absolutely need hope. Because without hope, you don’t have faith.” This insight underscores the heart of the song, which resonates deeply with listeners facing their own struggles.

As for songwriting, Moen is candid about the effort behind his art. “Songwriting is really hard work,” he emphasised, noting that crafting a great song can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years. While some songs come quickly, others require dedicated refinement, often tested on close family members. He laughingly recalled showing new songs to his wife, saying, “After about eight bars, if she was saying to the kids, ‘wash your hands, wipe your feet,’ I knew the moment was over.”

Today, Moen’s book, God Will Make a Way, offers fans a deeper look into his journey of faith and music. “If you want to learn more of Don’s story, his book is God Will Make a Way,” the host concluded. For those touched by the song’s message, it serves as both a comfort and an encouragement, a reminder that “God will make a way where there seems to be no way.”