Famous worship band Bethel Music has developed and introduced several amazing worship artists and songs over the years. The list includes married duo Brian and Jenn Johnson (“Have it All”), as well as talented worship artists Kalley Heiligenthal (“Ever Be”), Josh Baldwin (“The War is Over”), and Kristene DiMarco (“It is Well”).
Each artist has released solo projects, separate from Bethel Music. Most recently, Kristene dropped The Field, her new album that’s best described as an intimate listening experience with an ethereal worshipful tone. The album’s songs sound like recent music released by contemporary artists Kim Walker-Smith, Amanda Cook, and Taya.
The Field invites listeners to dig deep and sit with God in the uncomfortable and in the mystery; it speaks to our most basic need: simply being with our Creator and learning more about Him.
From worship hits “Break Every Chain” to “It Is Well” to “I Will Follow You,” Kristene has consistently impressed me with her mature faith and sincere desire to serve Jesus. Her name, Kristene, means, “be steadfast for Christ.” And this song beautifully captures that sentiment. I had the chance to speak with Kristene about “Gravity.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
For the song, I collaborated with fellow Bethel singer Kalley Heiligenthal; This is the very first song we’ve ever written together.
The past two years have done a number on our souls and hearts. After every tragedy, there’s this moment where you’re like, “God, are you a silent observer of our pain?” Pain, grief, and suffering are natural human emotions. I remember feeling guilty for a long time for expressing these types of emotions—especially in Christian circles—believing this isn’t a holy and righteous thought.
From 2020 until now, positivity and optimism just aren’t really cutting it. It’s hard to feel optimistic about the future with everything going on. It might be a good self-help thing, but our faith needs to go beyond self-help.
I started writing the verses, “This innocent idolatry, I thought it made You proud of me to keep my tears back behind my eyes.” These words gave me this image of God that I had created; He was telling me to suck it up all the time.
Even in the second verse, I was very conscious that I was saying something intense with the use of the word idolatry. The idea was that I had made Him like me and made Him weaker and less capable of being with me than He is.
I had made an image of God that’s not accurate. God is good. He’s a Man of sorrows who is acquainted with grief. I texted it to Kalley and she was like, “What if we wrote about positivity becoming my shepherd and optimism becoming my solid rock?” It’s almost like I made a god out of being positive.
When I sat down at the piano to finally write “Gravity,” I watched Kalley go through so much pain herself (which is her story to tell). But these lyrics can’t come out of her without carrying so much weight.
I sat down and fumbled around on the piano. The tune started off as, ironically, happy and bubbly. Then, I met with my producer David Leonard, and he slowed it down to match the song’s mood.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Isaiah 53:3-4(NKJV): “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.”
Matthew 11:28-30(MSG): "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Romans 15:13(NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hebrews 13:14 (NLT): "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come."
Philippians 4:6(VOICE): “Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.”
Philippians 4:7(NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
What is the takeaway message?
“I need a King who hung on Calvary” is a line in the song where we acknowledge we need God on Fridays and Saturdays when we aren’t quite hitting resurrection on Sundays. He’s also the God of those two days before the resurrection. And this song is meant to drive home that He feels the gravity of everything we’re going through.
We loved the idea of singing about gravity—it’s a heavy topic. God was fully man—God in flesh—who walked under earth’s gravity and what that means for us, meaning He was flesh and bone. And when He was raised from the dead, He walked through walls.
God made a big point for the disciples to look at His hands and feet and touch Him. They also watched Him eat. We wanted to get across in this song the flesh and blood of God who walked under earth's gravity. He also carries the weight of our situations. He’s a lot stronger than we are, and I believe He feels this so deeply. We need that.
Lyrics
This innocent idolatry I'm not letting You in too deep Because who knows if You can handle me? This innocent idolatry I thought it made You proud of me I keep my tears back behind my eyes
Oh, when did I decide I'm not allowed to cry? Positivity can't split these seas And all my optimism won't set this captive free I need a King who hung on Calvary I'll always need a God who feels deeply I need a God who knows the, the gravity
This innocent idolatry I made You somehow just like me Unable to sit in the suffering This innocent idolatry Movin' too fast past my grief When You are acquainted with what I'm carrying
Oh, when did I decide I'm not allowed to cry?
Positivity can't split thesе seas And all my optimism won't set this captive free I need a King who hung on Calvary I'll always need a God who feels deeply I need a God who knows thе, gravity
Don't let this truth be lost on me My God, He feels the gravity Of everything
Closing Thoughts
When I first heard “Gravity,” it became a personal worship anthem to sing to the Lord. It reminds me to be steadfast as a follower of Jesus. It reminds me to keep my eyes open and find ways to serve Him and His children for our good and His glory.
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world," wrote author C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity. As believers in Christ, we know that we’re made for God. We were all created to find our home in Him.
When I read the Bible, I’m strengthened with the truth that fear, worry, and anxiety are not God's plans for my life. So, trust God's Word completely—no matter the circumstances.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG): "Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." What an amazing comfort to know that when we struggle with pain, pride, and unloving natures, we can lay it at the feet of Jesus.
Too often, we get wrapped up in our own circumstances. We get down on ourselves with negative thoughts, allowing the devil to define our self-worth. Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death. He wants us to have abundant life in Him. What a wonderful, encouraging truth.
Our thoughts are constantly under attack by the enemy. This song is a great way to submit to God and commit yourself to Him. The Bible says to trust in what God says about you—no matter how you feel about yourself. I think He included the Book of Job as a reminder of how He wants you to handle trials.
In that Scripture, Satan tests God's servant, Job, to see if he can get him to lose his faith by causing him pain and suffering. Job's friends counsel him that he must have unrepented sins that are causing him the calamities of losing his family and his health. The hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul," is a similar reminder that our worship of God shouldn’t be based on our circumstances but based on who He is.
God knows you intimately. And, because Jesus died for you on the cross, He sees you as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, fully known, and forgiven—no matter what you've done.
So, when you sing this song, the devotional thought to think about is whether you are submitting your life to the truth or just singing the words. God wants you to boldly approach the throne of mercy and grace to receive and obtain what you need from Him. When you acknowledge our identity in Christ, your burdens are removed. I can't get enough of the beautifully poetic and powerful expressions of faith in this song.
We know from Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV): “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” I love singing these words along with Kristene and Kalley, and confessing, “Oh, when did I decide I'm not allowed to cry? Positivity can't split thesе seas/And all my optimism won't set this captive free/I need a King who hung on Calvary/I'll always need a God who feels deeply/I need a God who knows thе, gravity.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time 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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