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"Glorious Ruins" by Olly Kiff: Rising from Ashes Through Faith


This version of "Glorious Ruins" by Olly Kiff is not only a great cover, it was inspired by a terrible event in Olly's life. On September 25, 2024, the unthinkable happened. A fire destroyed his family's home. Fortunately, the family was not injured, but the flames took literally everything else, from everyday belongings to irreplaceable memories. Their journey since then has been marked by God's protection and grace. This song, originally by Hillsong Worship, was one of their lifelines in those early days, and what followed in the nine and a half months since the fire has inspired Olly and his wife to release a special version of the song. 

Olly Kiff - Glorious RuinsThe lyrics echo their experiences, the difficult path of rebuilding everything: "When the mountains fall and the tempest roars // You are with me." Even when life crumbles, we can always rely on His presence, "Still my soul will soar on Your mercy." Olly shares, "We never asked why - we've only seen grace." They constantly saw God's protection and provision as they were recovering from this devastation. Walking through the fires of life is never easy, but the song declares what happens when God is by your side, "I'll walk through the fire with my head lifted high." 

The chorus paints a picture of renewal that God brings to our lives: "So let the ruins come to life // In the beauty of Your Name." Olly shares how this renewal has become very tangible for his family, "We're now just weeks away from returning home, having signed off on repairs and collected our keys." 

What happened to Olly's family is one of the many ways that devastation can come into our lives, but His promise to all of us is still the same: we all may rise from ashes and find refuge in His love, "In the shadow of Your wings." You never need to travel alone on this journey from loss to rebuilding, because God is there, waiting for you to let Him in. So, let God be part of your life, walk with Him, let Him lead the way, and trust His promises. Don't ask why, just look at how His grace is opening doors and leading you on paths to renewal. Even ruins can become glorious again.

(Related scripture: Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 34:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)


Lyrics: https://genius.com/Hillsong-worship-glorious-ruins-lyrics

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