Hit makers Big Daddy Weave formed in 1998 in Mobile, Alabama. And, over these past few years, band members Mike and Jay Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Joe Shirk, and Brian Beihl have learned what it means to truly live by faith and to trust in a God, who makes all things new.
 
Known for their energetic and worshipful live shows, as well as their hits, "Redeemed," "The Only Name (Yours Will Be)," "The Lion and The Lamb," and "My Story," the band returns with a new project, When The Light Comes.
 
Every song on this stellar collection displays the band's heart behind what they do, leading people in worship. The new album demonstrates, once again, the passion and energy that have made Big Daddy Weave one of Christian music's most compelling acts.

True to form, When The Light Comes reflects real life and emotion, from longing and struggle to breakthrough and gratitude. It reflects lead singer Mike Weaver's forthright songwriting and intimate and unmistakable vocals backed by powerful arrangements. The album derives its power from the fact that life and music intertwine so fully.
 
Big Daddy Weave can really write a hooky and truth-filled chorus. And, "Alive," their new album's lead single, is catchy, relevant and worshipful, like their previous hits. The song is an upbeat worship declaration sung with a stirring passion and filled with prayerful lyrics. 

You'll want to worship our King Jesus along with the band, in particular the proclamation in the chorus: "But God, rich in mercy/ You came to save me/Now, I'm alive/My God, strong and mighty/ You reached down for me/So I could rise." I had the chance to speak with Mike Weaver about "Alive."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song is really special to me. "Alive" was co-written by our friend, Zach Williams. We met Zach many years ago and he shared how his life direction was dramatically changed when he heard our song, "Redeemed," on the radio. He said when he heard our song, he felt Jesus calling him back. And he started writing his songs, which are changing lives. It's really incredible. When he shared that with me, I was blown away. His song, "Chain Breaker," became a big hit. And, Zach toured with us.
 
My brother had been through a really rough season, where we just about lost him. He had both of his feet amputated. He was in recovery and Zach was with us. While Zach was a guest artist on our tour, he shared his song, "Alive," with us during a bus ride. When he shared the song with us, it was so powerful because it captured the season we had gone through.  We decided that we wanted to record the song right away. We knew this would be our first song from an album we hadn't written yet.
 
As the Lord used "Redeemed" to touch Zach's life, He is now using a song that Zach wrote that so deeply speaks to where we are. "Alive" came in its perfect timing, with us coming out of a season of hardship into a season of light. The Lord brought everything full circle. We are excited for everyone to hear a song that means so much to us as a band.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV): "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
 
Philippians 1:21 (NIV): "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
 
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
 
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV): "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
 
Hebrews 10:22 (KJV): "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
 
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (VOICE): "For I passed down to you the crux of it all which I had also received from others, that the Anointed One, the Liberating King, died for our sins and was buried and raised from the dead on the third day. All this happened to fulfill the Scriptures; it was the perfect climax to God's covenant story."

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (NIV): "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

What is the takeaway message?

When we were working on songs for our new record, they were all written from a place of processing grief and sorrow. We were in a season of serious hurting. It's crazy. You're not the first person to tell me that this album sounds joyful, despite our circumstances. 

I love "Alive." Because, I think, the song that connects the best with people are the ones where they can see their stories in the music. Everybody has moments in their lives where their problems intersect with God, His mercy, and an encounter with Him. If it's real in their lives, it's because God intervened and intersected with their life in some way. 

The song's chorus quotes Ephesians: "But God, rich in mercy." People can put their own stories in the song. When we sing that part of "Alive" in concert, people put their fists in the air, celebrating God's mercy. That's all our stories. That's the Gospel. The mercy of God intersected with our humanity. And we all have our own instances of that. I love how we all have our own examples of that, and the song gives a voice to our experiences with God, which is what we are celebrating in this song.
 
Lyrics:
I was dead in my transgressions
Wandering in sin
I went searching for redemption
Down a road that had no end
I was walking through the fire
I was living on the run
With my flesh lost in desire
I was drowning in the flood
 
But God, rich in mercy
You came to save me
Now I'm alive
But God, strong and mighty
You reached down for me
So I could rise
Now I'm alive
 
I am far from being perfect
There are days that I regret
On this battlefield I struggle
With the lies that I have lived
I have fallen short of glory
I can't make it on my own
If you kept record of my past
I'd be sinking like a stone
 
But God, rich in mercy
You came to save me
Now I'm alive
But God, strong and mighty
You reached down for me
So I could rise
 
Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave
But God You called me out
Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave
But God You called me out
 
But God, rich in mercy
You came to save me
Now I'm alive
My God, strong and mighty
You reached down for me
So I could rise
 
Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave
But God You called me out
Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave
But God You called me out
Now I'm alive

Closing Thoughts

"Alive" celebrates the day we were saved from our sins. It causes listeners to reflect on and celebrate their salvation experience. My story of the grace of when I was lost and Jesus found me happened in 1999. I was in my car listening to a Christian music album. And, at the end of the album, the artist shared his personal testimony, which was also my story.

I finally admitted to myself and God that I'm a sinner and I can't save myself. I pulled over to the side of the road and just sobbed, as I was invited to join in, saying the sinner's prayer. I confessed my sins, begged for forgiveness, and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. I felt the presence of God there with me in my car. I've never been the same.
 
Praise and worship is a heart condition and an emotional connection to the words that we lift up to God. Our worship is an offering, but God is the One who made the way for us to be with Him.

"Alive" is about our Savior, Jesus, who overcame the grave. It's about submitting ourselves to Him and His goodness, allowing His blood to cover us and run through our veins, giving us a blood transfusion. That's how we can "overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." This is a great song celebrating the freedom we have in Christ when we're born again.

Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, and we are not the same anymore. We're new creations, and we need to live under God's authority. "Alive" is about trusting in God and confessing to Him and others when we fail or struggle. Lay those at the feet of Jesus and He'll take them from you and release you from your burdens. God wants to hear from you. He wants us to boldly approach the Throne of mercy and grace to receive what we need from Him. We were dead in our sins and, by grace, we were saved and made alive in Christ.
 
By stepping into the Lord's ability instead of relying on ourselves, we're empowered by the supernatural ability of God. Are you excited about God's hope inside of you? Have you humbled yourself and asked Jesus to make you a new creation? I love singing this song of faith to Jesus. And, tell Him plainly that "Now, I'm alive." "Alive" has become my personal anthem, as I sing along, at the top of my lungs, the sincere and emotive lyrics of submission in the bridge: "Now I'm breathing in, breathing out/I was in the grave/But God You called me out/Now I'm alive." Amen to that.