Centricity Music's Aaron Shust recently released his first live album, Love Made A Way. The singer of hit songs "My Savior My God," "To God Alone," "God of Brilliant Lights" and "My Hope is in You" has once again loaned his voice to hope-filled songs of praise and worship, including his own versions of the popular songs "Ever Be" and "Death Was Arrested."

The album is filled with messages of hope, confession and worship to our Great God and Savior. Having worshiped live with Aaron before, this is my new favorite overall album by the multiple Dove Award winning worship leader, as it captures the energy of a worship night. I can't get enough of the Biblical truth of these songs. I had the opportunity to speak with Aaron about "You Redeem."
 
Please tell me the story behind the song.

At the beginning of writing and recording for this project, my family had moved to Nashville from Pittsburgh. In the past I've written from Atlanta, or drove into Nashville or over Skype. For the first time, I was able to write locally and then come home for dinner, which was a brand new experience. 

This song was written with Matt Hammitt and Seth Mosley. It felt very comfortable. We were catching up on life. Something that Matt and I have in common was that my middle child Nicky was going through some big medical issues at the same time that Matt's son Bowen was born with his heart condition. Our family's hearts were knit together during that time. It got really deep quickly. 

I was sharing about how a couple of years ago, we were falsely accused of neglecting our children because my youngest son Michael, who has Down's Syndrome and has half a heart, has a lot of trouble gaining weight. Someone called Child Protective Services. False things being said about you are hard to heal from. After that, Matt and Seth mentioned they were working on writing what ultimately became this song. We spent the next couple of weeks finishing the song together. When I was recording the demo, I had to stop a couple of times because I got so choked up, because the lines are so close to my heart. That's a good place to be, and it was so healing.

Which Bible verses connect with the message of the song?

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV): But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine."

Isaiah 43:19 (VOICE): "Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it's happening now, even as I speak, and you're about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; Waters will flow where there had been none."

Romans 8:28 (VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."

Psalm 30:11-12 (VOICE): "You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing; You stripped off my Mens Designer Clothing and covered me with joyful light. You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs! It's impossible to keep quiet! Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever."

Zechariah 3:4 (NKJV): Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." 

James 1:17 (NKJV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

What's the takeaway message?

Like it says in the song "Ever Be," we will forever be His bride. Nothing can thwart or stop that from happening. God is saying He has redeemed us, and we are His. What I love about the word "redeem" as I've thought through these lyrics and how they apply to my story is that redemption is displayed throughout the Bible from the Lord in more than just salvation. I think of how Joseph is reunited with his brothers and how instead of taking revenge, he assures them that what was intended for harm, God intended for good. I see redemption that way. Regardless of foolish decisions and talking too much and trying to be honorable but ending up in prison, everything was for a purpose, and God redeemed the circumstances. 

A mutual friend of ours, NRT's Caitlin, posted about this song's impact, about how as someone who has dealt with chronic pain it is difficult for her to sing songs as a worship leader that talk about healing and the promise of healing when she has not personally experienced it. Speaking of the bridge from this song, "miracles will happen, healing will come," one of my favorite ways to write songs is in the future tense, claiming the promises of God. We are not always experiencing it, but we can cling to the promise that He will redeem. Her resolution was that even if she's not experiencing it, she will proclaim His promises over her. That's exactly what I hope people take away from the song. I trust that God knows better than we do. God is Sovereign. He has not forgotten us. He hears our prayers, and will answer in time.

Lyrics:
Poverty loses its grip
Race can no longer divide
Wherever your spirit is
Every darkness dies
Freedom is here with us
Burdens will fall like chains
Beauty will rise from the dust
All that's lost will be regained

You redeem, You redeem
You restore what's been stolen from me
You reclaim, You release
You rebuild with the words that You breathe
You redeem

Mercy will pour down like rain
Justice will come for the weak
Lies that were meant to defame
Will be crushed by the the truth that you speak

You redeem, You redeem
You restore what's been stolen from me
You reclaim, You release
You rebuild with the words that You breathe
You redeem

Miracles will happen
Healing will come
The plans of our enemy ruined undone
Miracles will happen
Healing will come
Here in Your presence lost in Your Love
Miracles will happen
Healing will come
The plans of our enemy ruined undone
Miracles will happen
Healing will come
Wrecked by Your presence I'm lost in Your Love

You redeem, You redeem
You restore what's been stolen from me
You reclaim, You release
You rebuild with the words that You breathe
You redeem, You redeem
Let Your revival awaken me
You reclaim, You release
You rebuild what's been broken in me
You redeem
You redeem

I sing this song to God with all my heart and know that "You rebuild what's been broken in me." When I read the Scripture, it challenges me to think about whether I am really acknowledging that "every good and perfect gift" comes from God. Believers need to understand that Truth to be sanctified, and to try to live the Christian life. It is about recognizing that all good things come "from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." I find myself singing this song as a prayer throughout the day, very much like Aaron's Dove Award winning song "My Savior, My God."

True peace and security comes from bringing your real transparent mess to the feet of Jesus at the Cross. He doesn't want you to try to improve yourself first. This song is another anointed, set apart, sacred offering to our King in the style of Aaron's past worship songs. God's love is unconditional. We can't do anything to earn His love. The best we have to offer is our total depravity. Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you can know this with all of your heart: "Miracles will happen, healing will come, the plans of our enemy ruined undone. Miracles will happen, healing will come, wrecked by Your presence I'm lost in Your Love."

I'm personally grateful for Aaron, his family and his ministry. I know there are many people who can relate to Aaron's story of watching loved ones or personally dealing with health issues. We know that God is the Great Physician and Healer. One day, there will be no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more suffering. For those who have put all of their hope and trust in Him for their salvation, we know that we will be with Him as new creations, with new bodies, and we'll worship God forever as expressed in this song: "You redeem, You redeem, You restore what's been stolen from me. You reclaim, You release, You rebuild with the words that You breathe." Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.