Contemporary singer Sara Groves’ albums have received well-deserved acclaim for her premier songwriting ability. Her twenty-year album—her major-label debut—Conversations was proof of that fact. Follow-up releases All Right Here and The Other Side of Something continued to display her songwriting prowess. They showcased the evolution of her creativity.
On later releases Add to the Beauty, Tell Me What You Know, and Fireflies & Songs, Sara focused on a theme and wrote a poetic commentary with music about social justice and the impoverished. While Sara’s recent releases received top-of-year accolades: Invisible Empires was my top album of 2011 and Floodplain was one of my top albums of 2015. Her most recent album, What Makes It Through, was one of my top albums of 2021.
Her latest album’s themes are a reflection on events of the last several years and speak to the hard work of what it means to arrive at something like truth and reconciliation. I had the chance to speak with Sara about a song from the album, “Soul of Things.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
“Soul of Things” is the first song that presented itself as being ready for the record. I knew I wanted to record an album and this song was the first to take shape for me. There are two themes on this new album: one is forgiveness and reconciliation, and the other is through the lens of memory and how we tell our stories and how we remember.
The idea for the song came when I got in my car with the radio already on. On it, there was a talk show playing. It mentioned how interesting it was that someone can know us in a matter of minutes. And name something personal that could take us 10 years of therapy to identify about ourselves. This song is a reaction to that statement.
I turned off the radio and thought about that sentiment for a while. I felt exposed. I felt like I had done a lot to ensure people didn’t know things about me or know about my insecurities. So, I could relate to this concept. At that moment, I wondered how I could get past all the filters I had in my life. And to share these experiences with others. I’m convinced it’s very hard to tell ourselves the truth.
When I think about songwriting, I’m trying to get past the “what’s the cool thing to say?” or “what’s the faithful thing to say?”. And, instead, move to the human part of “what’s the truth?” “Soul of Things” is about what it has meant to me to be human. This is what I’ve experienced, and this is what I’m going through.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
John 4:29(VOICE): "I met a stranger who knew everything about me."
John 7:38(NKJV): “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 14:16(NKJV): “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”
Matthew 11:29-30(NKJV): "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Psalm 103:6-18(MSG): "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, He's rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is His love to those who fear Him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, He has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear Him."
1 Peter 5:6-7(NIV): “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
What is the takeaway message?
I connected the song’s message to The Voice translation of John 4:29 where Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. She then goes to her town and says, “I met a stranger who knew everything about me.” In that passage, Jesus did something where He sees past people’s behavior and labels, as well as the ways we engage with people.
Jesus does something different and sees the soul of the woman at the well. I think I could attempt to learn that lesson of how Jesus saw people.
God doesn’t treat us like dirt, because of our sins. Instead, He shows us great empathy. We often forget how terrible we can be, and how wonderful we can be. We also forget how each human heart calls for wonder. So, let’s try to see each other athentically.
As I’ve dealt with different mental health challenges, I need to be intentional about which stories I tell myself and meditate about. A message conveyed throughout my new album, What Makes It Through, is that we remember that Jesus loves us—even though we mess up again and again.
Lyrics
How is it a stranger Can know you for a moment And call out pretty closely What it takes years to name Why is it so hard to tell yourself the truth To see into the soul of things
See your hopes and fears The oughts the shoulds the habits The unseen puppeteers That pull you on the stage Why is it so hard to tell yourself the truth To see into the soul of things
What a mystery your very heart Held inside you and known in part Held inside you and known in part
Memory grows rigid Playing in the loops Running my resentments And all my well-worn proofs It's hard to get a witness Even when I'm there To see into the soul of things
What a mystery your very heart Held inside you and known in part Held inside you and known in part
Somewhere in the vast Waters of my mind A memory resurfaced And I'm looking in your eyes You are trying to tell me A better way to see Into the soul of things Into the soul of things Into the soul of things
Closing Thoughts
Sara Groves has always had a knack for hitting me where I am spiritually. Not to mention when I’m expressing the prayerful yearnings of my heart. The songs on What Makes It Through are all captivating. And if you like Sara's emotional songs "Miracle," "This Cup," and "It's Me," then consider streaming or buying this album. She’s a gifted singer-songwriter with a tender voice that’s memorable and dynamic, yet intimate.
These songs all have lyrics that capture life's complex and vital messages. Standout tracks filled with overwhelming biblical truth. They’re wonderful musical companions in my prayer and worship time. God's grace washes us clean in the river of His Holy Spirit, and we become a new creation in Christ. As we look at the fallen world around us, we all need to lift our eyes to God and put all our faith and hope in Him.
The story of the woman at the well is stirring. How excited she was to drop her bucket and tell everyone in the town to "come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
Jesus knows everything about us, and His Spirit is the well of living water that never runs dry. That's the beauty of this song and album. “Soul of Things” is such a vulnerable and sincere prayer. You can't help but pray and sing along with Sara.
Jesus promises us in Matthew 11:29-30 that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He came to claim us and set us free from the burden of sin. When we are in communion with Jesus, it is joyful and not a burden.
This song—and others, such as “Miracle” and “It’s Me”—increases my convictions to grow closer to God and to look at my relationships during my mindfulness and personal devotional time. The song’s lyrics are very touching: “Somewhere in the vast waters of my mind a memory resurfaced and I’m looking in your eyes/You are trying to tell me a better way to see into the soul of things.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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