Jeremy Camp's newest album I Will Follow has a cohesiveness and spiritual maturity that I can hear in every song. "He Knows" has already made an impact on Christian radio charts, and if you like Jeremy's previous hit songs of worship, then you'll also enjoy this song and album.
 
In Camp's book I Still Believe, he shares the extraordinary story behind his award-winning lyrics. His story reflects the influences from his impoverished childhood, rebellious teenage years, spiritual awakening at Bible College and the tragic loss of his first wife, Melissa, to cancer. The heart-wrenching spiritual journey that followed is a journey that reignited Camp's faith, inspired some of his most beloved songs, and paved the way for a second chance at love with his second wife, Adrienne.
 
"He Knows" is already one of my favorite songs of the year. Every song on this great new album has a catchy and engaging feel. I had the great opportunity to interview Jeremy in person before Winter Jam about his song "He Knows."
 
Please share the personal story behind the song.
 
A couple of years ago I released a book called I Still Believe. From that, I shared more in-depth about what the Lord has done in my life, and more and more people have shared their stories with me. They have asked me questions about how I've managed with what I've been through, and they want to know how to deal with their issues.
 
You want to say the right things, but you realize that everyone's pain is different. I can share some Scriptures, and tell people what the Lord has taught me, but it is the Lord that does the work. I can point people to Jesus and God's Word, but that is all I can do.
 
I remember when I was sitting down to write songs for this album, and "He Knows" was the first song I wrote. I was with a friend and shared with him that there's more of my testimony of what God has done in the depths of my soul that I want to bring out. What came out was that I realized that as much as I share, it is God who knows what we are going through and what we need.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
 
Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV): For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
 
John 11:35 (NKJV): Jesus wept.
 
Psalm 139:1-10 (NKJV): O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me
 
Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV): How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV): I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
 
What is the takeaway message?
 
We have a High Priest in Jesus who sympathizes with our weaknesses. He was tempted, but did not sin. He was betrayed by His own friend. He walked this Earth and people who were saying "Hosanna in the highest" the week before were saying "Crucify Him" the next week. All these different things, and we know Jesus has compassion for us. It says "Jesus wept" as the shortest verse in the Bible. He came to relate to us.
 
I always go to that place in my relationship with Jesus. No one else can understand what you are going through. You get to the point of realizing that Jesus knows. In Psalm 139, we see that God knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb, and He knows when we are sitting down and standing up. Where can I flee from Your presence? We need to understand that God knows.
 
It was an amazing start to this new album, and everything flowed from there. It's all You, Lord. You understand, and I run to You for everything.
 
You get to the point where you understand that God knows everything about us, and we can run to Him for everything, and you can't flee from His presence; that you are in complete surrender to God. That's where "I Will Follow" comes in. In the Bible, we know that Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly. The album's title track is me saying to God that no matter what happens, I will follow You God.
 
Lyrics:
All the bitter weary ways
Endless striving day by day
You barely have the strength to pray
In the valley low

How hard your fight has been
How deep the pain within
Wounds that no one else has seen
Hurts too much to show 

All the doubt you're standing in between
And all the weight that brings you to your knees

He knows
He knows
Every hurt and every sting
He has walked the suffering
He knows
He knows
Let your burdens come undone
Lift your eyes up to the One
Who knows
He knows
He knows
 
We may faint and we may sink
Feel the pain and near the brink
But the dark begins to shrink
When you find the one who knows

The chains of doubt that held you in between
One by one are starting to break free

Every time that you feel forsaken
Every time that you feel alone
He is near to the broken hearted
Every tear
He knows…
 
 
This new song and album represents a perfect blend of what I've always loved about Jeremy Camp's music ministry, with every song reflecting his personal testimony and his biblical worldview. The lyrics "wounds that no one else has seen hurts too much to show" have been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter our circumstances. The bridge has an amazing and comforting reminder: "Every time that you feel forsaken, every time that you feel alone, He is near to the broken hearted, every tear, He knows."
 
This song is a great celebratory anthem about what it means to have hope in Christ. Sometimes it is hard to believe that God loves us so much that He knows us intimately and He wants to fill our hearts with love. We don't have to be pretend, or hide, or strive or stand on our tiptoes to meet some mark. He knows our brokenness inside and out, and because of what Jesus did on the Cross, He sees us as righteous. God sees us as He sees His Son. It's not our righteousness, or appearance or talent or gifting, it is just Jesus. That's cause to celebrate and sing out to Him: "Let your burdens come undone, lift your eyes up to the One who knows, He knows." Amen to that!
 
(Watch the lyric video here.)