Acclaimed worship leader and songwriter Hope Darst is reflecting on a formative chapter in her life and ministry, marking ten years since a year that would shape her family, her faith, and the global worship landscape. Looking back on 2016, Darst describes the season as one filled with sacred milestones, enduring relationships, and a song that would go on to comfort and strengthen countless believers around the world.
The year was one of profound personal transition. Darst and her family purchased and remodeled a home, creating a space that would become central to both family life and ministry. It was also a season marked by deep community - beach trips with close friends, leading a small group whose members remain lifelong companions, and learning to faithfully navigate the overlapping demands of motherhood and ministry. Amid it all, Darst celebrated 11 years of marriage with her husband, @drdarst, grounding her public calling in a strong private foundation.
2016 also included moments of joy and inspiration beyond the church walls, including attending a live performance by Adele, an experience Darst remembers as creatively stirring during a season already rich with artistic growth.
Yet the year's most enduring legacy came on July 20, 2016, when Darst gathered with fellow songwriters Mia Fieldes and Andrew Holt. On that day, the trio wrote Peace Be Still, a worship song that would later resonate deeply with churches navigating fear, uncertainty, and seasons of waiting.
Born not out of strategy but out of lived faith, Peace Be Still emerged from a simple moment of trust - a prayerful declaration rooted in the authority of Christ spoken into the storms of real life. The song's refrain would go on to echo in sanctuaries, prayer rooms, and personal worship moments across the globe, becoming a steady reminder that Jesus remains present and sovereign in the midst of chaos.
To commemorate the anniversary, Darst has shared a rare clip from the original demo recorded on the very day the song was written, offering listeners a glimpse into the raw and unpolished moment when the song first took shape. The recording captures the sincerity and immediacy that have defined Darst's songwriting throughout her career - music shaped not by performance, but by prayer.
Reflecting on the decade since, Darst points not to accolades or reach, but to the faithfulness of God woven through ordinary and extraordinary moments alike. From family milestones to friendships that endured, from small-group living rooms to global worship settings, 2016 stands as a reminder that God often does His most lasting work in seasons that feel quietly faithful rather than historically significant.
As Darst continues to serve the church through worship leading and songwriting, her reflection offers a testimony to the power of obedience, community, and songs written from a place of lived trust. Ten years later, Peace Be Still remains not just a song, but a prayer - one that continues to meet listeners where they are, inviting them to rest in the presence of a faithful God.
