A Handmaid of the Lord

A Handmaid of the Lord

📖 Website Article – YouTube Video – 🎵 Sheet Music

When our Stake Relief Society President, Tiffany Tolman, (a volunteer leader of the women’s organization in my area) asked me to write a song for our upcoming Stake Women’s Conference, she already had a beautiful vision in mind. She wanted the conference to focus on several women from the Bible, exploring their relationships with Jesus Christ and what we can learn from their examples as women striving to follow Him today.

She shared a list of women she hoped to include—Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary and Martha; the woman with an issue of blood; Jairus’s daughter; the woman who loved much; Hannah; and one from the Book of Mormon, Sariah. Although she hadn’t written the conference script yet, she shared a few thoughts about each woman and invited me to create a song that would include some of their specific, individual stories and connect or weave them together somehow.

I began by opening the scriptures and studying each woman’s story. As I read, I wrote down impressions and tried to imagine what each woman may have felt as she encountered the Savior. I eventually wrote short poems about each of them. The first half of each poem reflected the woman’s perspective, while the second half focused on the Savior’s response or what He taught through that experience.

Not every poem made it into the final song (or it would have been way too long!), but writing them helped me better understand these remarkable women and the love Jesus showed each of them.

From there, I began shaping the music. As the melody and chorus developed, I started noticing some common threads. Again and again, I saw how the Savior brought healing, hope, peace, and purpose into each woman’s life. Those shared themes eventually became the heart of the chorus.

My husband listened through several early drafts and offered valuable feedback on the chord progression and melody, helping me strengthen the verses. After making those revisions, I recorded a rough demo and sent it to my friend Tiffany.

She loved it, but had one suggestion.

She said the song would be better if it included a verse about the faithful women of today—the ordinary women who strive to follow Christ in the midst of everyday life.

That suggestion became my husband’s favorite part of the song:

“I’m a faithful woman, and my life is full,
But I can’t shake anxiety or feeling small.
On those days, I find relief through my belief,
For my Jesus gives me strength; He sees me.
Behold, a handmaid of the Lord.”

I love the reminder that while the women in the scriptures lived long ago, the Savior’s invitation is still the same. He continues to know us personally, strengthen us in our struggles, and invite us to follow Him in faith.

Writing this song was truly a gift. My hope is that as you listen, you’ll remember that the same Savior who loved, healed, forgave, strengthened, and guided these women continues to do the very same for us today.

A Handmaid of the Lord

Inspired by the stories of faithful women in scripture and their encounters with Jesus Christ.

Once a suffering woman made her way to the Lord.
Though an outcast, she touched the lowest garment He wore.
Jesus turned toward this woman sitting all alone,
“Go in peace, my dear daughter, thou art now made whole.
Behold, thy faith hath made thee whole.”

I’m a daughter, a handmaid of the Lord.
I rejoice in my Redeemer; he has made me whole.
I will now arise, and I will go in peace.
In my faith I stand and follow where He leads.

When a woman, a sinner, came to Jesus at meat,
She brought all her oil to anoint His feet.
Jesus offered her mercy, for she loved Him much.
Now her sins were forgotten; he forgave what was.
Behold, now she can go in peace. [1]

I’m a daughter, a handmaid of the Lord.
I rejoice in my Redeemer; he has made me whole.
I will now arise, and I will go in peace.
In my faith I stand and follow where He leads.

Mary, mother of Jesus, bowed her head down low.
She’d done all that was required, trusting, letting go.
Jesus turned to his disciple as he looked below,
Saying, “Now, this is thy mother; take her to thine own.”

I’m a faithful woman, and my life is full,
But I can’t shake anxiety or feeling small.
On those days, I find relief through my belief,
For my Jesus gives me strength; he sees me.
Behold, a handmaid of the Lord.

I’m a daughter, a handmaid of the Lord.
I rejoice in my Redeemer; he has made me whole.
I will now arise, and I will go in peace.
In my faith I stand and follow where he leads.
As I follow Him, he guides my feet.
Behold, a handmaid of the Lord.
Behold, a handmaid of the Lord.

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*Reach out if you would like a simplified version of any of my songs. You can find sheet music here: https://marileekaymusic.com/products/

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