Richard Smallwood wrote “Total Praise” during a very difficult time in his life. He was overwhelmed with personal struggles, including caring for his mother as her health declined and dealing with deep emotional exhaustion. He felt tired, discouraged, and spiritually drained.
One day, Smallwood sat down at the piano intending to write a sad song that expressed how heavy everything felt. But as he began to play, something changed. Instead of focusing on his pain, the music led him toward trusting God. The lyrics that came to him were not about despair, but about lifting his eyes to God for strength and help.
Inspired by Psalm 121, the song became a declaration that God is the source of peace, protection, and hope—even when life is hard. Smallwood later shared that he didn’t plan to write a praise song, but the song itself “turned” into praise as he played.
“Total Praise” was written fairly quickly, but its message was deep: God deserves praise in every season, not just when things are going well. Because it was born out of real pain and real faith, the song has continued to touch people around the world and has become a powerful worship anthem in churches everywhere.
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