Fair Trade Services singer/songwriter Austin French has made a name for himself in the Christian music industry. His albums, Wide Open and Wake Up Sleeper, are filled with confessional and biblical lyrics that speak to listeners searching for Christ-focused and uplifting music. His standout songs, such as “Wake Up Sleeper,” “Born Again,” “Freedom Hymn,” and “Why God,” showcase his talent and passion for spreading the message of God's grace.
Austin's music beautifully expresses Jesus's deep love for all of us and how His mercy and grace are gifts we don't deserve, filling our hearts with gratitude. Each song is a testament to our thankfulness for God's blessings. During my interview with Austin at Winter Jam in Reading, Pennsylvania, he shared the inspiration behind his autobiographical song, “Jesus Can.” Austin French is a rising star in the Christian music scene and an artist to keep on your radar.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
“Jesus Can” captures some of my struggles growing up. It testifies to how Christ can overcome life’s obstacles. This song is my story, a reminder that we can't overcome our struggles alone, but Jesus can. I grew up in a Christian home with my dad as the worship pastor of my church. While growing up, I confess that faith and anything to do with it repelled me, and I fell away from my relationship with God.
In this song, which I co-wrote with the renowned contemporary artist Matthew West—you might know him—I share my experience growing up in an unhappy home. He encouraged me to share my story, leading to honest and vulnerable verses.
As a child, I remember pulling into the church parking lot and hearing my family have conversations that sounded like, "Hide the bruises, hide the scars, put on a smile because we're at church." We looked like the perfect ministry family from the outside, but on the inside, it felt like we were amid World War III at home. We were taught to keep our struggles to ourselves and not show any signs of brokenness.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
2 Corinthians 6:18(VOICE): "'And I will be for you as a Father, and you will be for Me as sons and daughters,' Says the Lord Almighty!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Philippians 1:21(NIV): "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Matthew 11:28(NIV): "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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."
John 8:36(NIV): "So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Romans 8:31(NIV): "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
John 1:12(NIV): "Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
1 John 3:18(VOICE): My little children, don't just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love.
Ephesians 2:1(NKJV): "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
What is the takeaway message?
When I was 13 years old, my life and view of God were transformed when I attended a youth music conference. I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, the healer of broken people, during this event.
Instead of focusing on the people who had hurt me, I saw the power of Christ's love and grace in my life. Through this experience, I realized that what I couldn't do, Jesus could do.
I used to judge Jesus based on the broken people around me, but I had never truly met Him personally. That all changed one night when I surrendered my life to Him, and He became my Savior. I had a lot of brokenness from my past that I had to confront, stemming from my upbringing, my parent's divorce, a broken home, and even experiences with ministry. I can relate to those who have been hurt in the name of Jesus.
Writing this song brought up both pain and healing from my past. As an artist, I have experienced a life-changing event that has saved me from a desperate situation. My goal with this song is to share my personal history and story. I hope that when you feel there is no way out, you can turn to Jesus, who can make a way.
I believe our God is a good Father who sees us as His kids and isn’t scared of our questions and doubts about ourselves. He wants us to know who we are in Him. During moments of doubt, there are many things in life that we may not fully understand, but perhaps we aren’t supposed to. Maybe we’re meant to rely on God, our Father, who knows everything and holds everything in His hands. As the lyrics declare, "Only Jesus can save me/only Jesus can change me," which is a truth I hold close to my heart.
Lyrics
Picture this an eight-year-old kid Growing up in Georgia Having a hard time with the world That he was seeing
Coming home from school Scared to death And always wondering What kind of mood his dad would be in That kind of home Can do a number on you Mom and dad broke up And I guess I broke, too I grew up thinking Nothing good could ever come From a story like mine
but Who turns a broken dream Into a life redeemed Who can turn your worst defeat Into your victory Who saw me where I was And led me where I stand My life is living proof That only Jesus can
Everybody's got that hurt They wished that never happened Everybody’s got that pain They wish they could undo But wounds become scars And scars become stories And when it comes To the story of you
Who turns a broken dream Into a life redeemed Who can turn your worst defeat Into your victory Who saw me where I was And led me where I stand My life is living proof That only Jesus can
Only Jesus can save me Only Jesus can change me Only Jesus can take me From lost to found Hallelujah, I’m singing There’s no stealing my freedom He picked up all the pieces Look at me now
Who turns a broken dream Into a life redeemed Who can turn your worst defeat Into your victory Who saw me where I was And led me where I stand My life is living proof That only Jesus can Oh, thank You, Jesus
Only Jesus can save me Only Jesus can change me Only Jesus can take me From lost to found Hallelujah, I’m singing There’s no stealing my freedom My life is living proof That only Jesus can
Closing Thoughts
“Jesus Can” has become my personal anthem, and I belt out the sincere and emotive lyrics of surrender every time I hear it. I deeply appreciate how prayers and songs of praise are meant to be communal experiences that we can all share. The Lord wants us to yearn for heaven and develop a deep and meaningful relationship with Him.
Once the Holy Spirit indwells within us, we gain a personal relationship with the Comforter and receive a peace that surpasses all understanding. This knowledge allows us to understand that this fallen world is not all there is to live for. As His sons and daughters, we must carry His love wherever we go, recognizing that His love is always with us.
"Jesus Can" tells us that the solution is Jesus, ordained and anointed by God for our salvation. He’s the only one that can save us. The only one that can turn our broken dreams into testimonies of joy. The beauty of this song lies in how it allows these words of comfort to envelop us and celebrate God's joy in sharing our stories. It paints a beautiful picture of His deep love for us.
When you listen to the song, allow the thought of “Everybody's got that hurt/They wished that never happened/Everybody’s got that pain/They wish they could undo/But wounds become scars/And scars become stories/And when it comes/To the story of you,” to bring you to a place of worship.
As believers, we must take the time to be encouraged to live out 1 Corinthians 9:22, which says, "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means, I might save some."
The beauty of "Jesus Can" lies in how our individual stories of how Jesus has worked in our lives connect perfectly with this song. It celebrates the day God saved us from our sins and encourages us to reflect on and celebrate our own salvation experiences. It's all about surrendering ourselves to Him and His goodness, allowing His blood to cover us and flow through our veins.
I’m grateful for the reminder that God's love for me is unconditional, and that He accepts me just as I am. I’m also reminded that through His grace, I’m a new creation and have been free from my past mistakes and negative thoughts.
When we step into the Lord's ability rather than relying on ourselves, we are empowered by His supernatural power. God loves us deeply, and when we lean on Him, He will give us the strength we need. Sometimes, we create a barrier between ourselves and God, but He longs for us to return to Him. His love for us is unchanging, and nothing can separate us from it.
We were dead in our sins, and by grace, we were saved and made alive in Christ. That's the reason to sing, “Who turns a broken dream/Into a life redeemed/Who can turn your worst defeat/Into your victory/Who saw me where I was/And led me where I stand/My life is living proof/That only Jesus can.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime Christian music fan and an avid music collector. He 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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