Where I Get Inspiration From: The Weird, Wonderful Place of Song Lyrics, etc.

Inspiration is a strange, mysterious thing. Sometimes it comes as a flash of an image, a sudden conversation, or a scent that pulls a memory from the depths. For me, some of the most powerful inspiration comes from song lyrics; those few lines that feel like they hold an entire universe of meaning in just a handful of words.

One lyric that changed everything for me is from Hillsong’s song “So Will I (100 Billion X).” The line goes: “If the wind goes where You send it, so will I.”

At first, it sounds simple, like a poetic way of saying “I’ll follow.” But the more I sat with it, the deeper it became. The wind is unseen, uncontrollable, and free. It doesn’t know its destination. It just moves where it is sent. That surrender, that trust in the invisible, became the heartbeat of my book Jump.

Writing Jump was about wrestling with obedience, the tension between what I want and what God asks of me. Like the wind, I realized, obedience isn’t always about knowing where you’re going; it’s about saying yes to the journey, even when it’s uncertain or scary.

That lyric was more than inspiration; it was a kind of invitation. It invited me to let go of the need for a clear map and to trust in the wind, the Spirit’s invisible guidance.

Interestingly, that one line birthed a series of scenes and reflections. I found myself writing moments where my main character feels lost, afraid, but compelled to step out anyway. The metaphor of the wind led me to explore themes of faith, surrender, and the beauty of moving even when you can’t see your next step.

Music often bypasses the logical mind and lands directly in the soul. When a lyric grabs me like that, I try to capture it immediately; whether it’s a voice memo on my phone, a quick note in my journal, or a sketch of a scene. That seed then grows as I write, taking shape in ways even the lyric itself couldn’t predict.

The songs I return to aren’t always explicitly spiritual. Sometimes it’s the raw emotion or poetic imagery that stirs something inside me. But when a line like “If the wind goes where You send it, so will I” lands, it’s like the Spirit is whispering a story waiting to be told.

So if you’re a creator, or even just a curious soul, pay attention to the small moments of inspiration around you. A lyric, a phrase, a melody might be the spark that lights your next project or even your next step in life.

And if you want to share, I’d love to know: what’s one lyric that’s ever stopped you in your tracks?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfVd5x9W1Xc&pp=ygUXc28gd2lsbCBpIDEwMCBiaWxsaW9uIHg%3D