Hope Darst – Peace Be Still

Hope Darst is an American Christian artist and songwriter.  She is a relatively new artist, releasing her debut album Peace Be Still in 2020.  She is heavily involved in writing music for The Belonging Co and is sometimes featured in their music.

Side Note: Although The Belonging Co released their version of this song first, there are enough differences to warrant a separate review specifically for Darst, who co-authored this song.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Darst desires to remain unafraid of the riptides of life so that she can have inner-peace amid tossing and turning.  “You” is larger than this storm and the source of Darst’s tranquility, whom Darst trusts.

Who is “You”?  Darst isn’t clear on that point.  The word “faith” is often associated with religion, which gives “You” a deistic explanation.  However, there’s nothing here that distinguishes the Christian God from a different deity.

Finally, the phrase “peace be still” is oddly worded.  While I firmly believe that it’s meant to be two separate ideas, the wording makes it sound like Darst is calling for peace to be still, which makes little sense.  It’s like the joke that commas save lives: “let’s eat grandpa” as opposed to “let’s eat, grandpa”.  The comma (or lack thereof) changes the meaning of the text.

Score: 5/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

I deducted 1 point to assume “You” is the Christian God.  I only deducted 1 because it identifies a deity.  Apart from this, also the entire song agrees with the Bible, except that Darst potentially calls for peace itself to remain still.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I don’t want to be afraid
Every time I face the waves

Darst desires to remain brave despite the waves of life that crash over her; the opposite of the faithless people in Matthew 8:23-26, Mark 4:36-41, and Luke 8:22-25.

I don’t want to be afraid
I don’t want to be afraid
I don’t want to fear the storm
Just because I hear it roar
I don’t want to fear the storm
I don’t want to fear the storm

Repeats ideas/words in lines 1 and 2.

[Chorus]

Peace be still

This wording comes from the KJV of Mark 4:39.  However, there is a minor issue with the way Darst phrases it.  Jesus speaks it as “Peace!  Be still!”, which is essentially saying the same thing twice.  However, as stated in section 1, Darst’s “peace be still” is put together, as though peace itself must be still.  This doesn’t make sense.  If it was written “peace, be still”, I would have overlooked it.

Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I’m dancing in the deep

References Peter’s walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33.  Darst contrasts herself with Peter, that he lacked faith where she would remain standing.

Peace be still

Repeats line 1.

You are here so it is well

Darst can get through the waves so long as God is with her (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

Even when my eyes can’t see
I will trust the voice that speaks

Darst will remain faithful, even if she doesn’t know why she’s going through tribulation (1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23, and 1 Peter 5:9).

[Verse 2]

I’m not gonna be afraid
‘Cause these waves are only waves
I’m not gonna be afraid
No, I’m not gonna be afraid
And I’m not gonna fear the storm

Repeats/essentially repeats words/ideas in Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.

You are greater than its roar

In the literal sense, Jesus is stronger than the storm because He rebuked it (Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24).  In the figurative sense, God is bigger than Darst’s problems (Job 26:14, Job 37:5, Psalm 147:3-5, Jeremiah 32:27, Matthew 19:26, 2 Corinthians 13:4, and 1 Timothy 6:15-16).

Oh, I’m not gonna fear the storm
No, I’m not gonna fear at all

Repeats/essentially repeats line 5.

[Chorus 2]

Peace, peace over me

That is, internal peace (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

[Bridge]

Let faith rise up
O heart believe
Let faith rise up in me

See Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

Let faith rise up
O heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
O heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
O heart believe
Let faith rise up in me

Repeats lines 1-4.

[Outro]

Peace over me
You speak peace
You speak peace
Over me

Confirms that God is the source of Darst’s peace.  See Chorus 2.

You speak peace
You speak peace
You speak peace

Repeats line 2.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will probably think that Darst is making peace with her troubles, and that her deity is the source of this peace that she has faith in.  As stated in section 1, Darst is vague on the identity of “You”.  It’s hard to know if they will see that “peace be still” as odd.

Score: 4/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that Darst trusts a higher power to help her through her fears, it does not glorify Him that she is unclear on the object of her faith.

Score: 5/10

Closing Comments

Hope Darst’s Peace Be Still is unclear.  Though she trusts in “You” to give her internal peace, that she can walk through the tumult and waves of life unafraid, she could have given us hints that connect “You” to the Christian God, as opposed to any deity that offers peace.  This is especially true for unbelievers.

Had I reviewed the earliest version of this song, released by The Belonging Co, this would have been a different review.  They invoke the name of Jesus throughout their performance of this song, which would have significantly improved this song’s rating.  However, I cannot recommend Darst’s version for corporate worship.

Final Score: 6/10

Artist Info

Track: Peace Be Still (listen to the song)

Artist: Hope Darst

Album: Peace Be Still

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 5:21

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2017 Eight26Publishing (ASCAP) TBCO Music (ASCAP) TBCO Publishing (BMI) Andrew Holt Music Publishing (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Upside Down Under (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) / Fair Trade Music Publishing (ASCAP) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.