Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp has captivated audiences worldwide with his soul-stirring music and unwavering faith. With a career spanning more than 17 years, Jeremy boasts an impressive track record, including lifetime consumption of almost five million and 325 million lifetime streams, the most #1s among solo artists on the Christian Airplay chart, and numerous Billboard and ASCAP awards.
His impactful music has touched the hearts of listeners across the globe, and his tours have allowed him to share his inspiring message in over 36 countries.
Jeremy’s recent album, When You Speak, has cohesiveness and spiritual maturity that listeners can hear in every song. If you like Jeremy's previous hit worship songs like "There Will Be a Day," "Jesus Saves," and "Christ in Me," then you'll also enjoy the music on When You Speak.
From the uplifting anthem "Anxious Heart" to the introspective tracks that delve into Jeremy's testimony and biblical perspective, this album represents the pinnacle of his music ministry. After the highly anticipated Winter Jam in Reading, Pennsylvania, I sat down with Jeremy and delved into the inspiration behind the soul-stirring "Anxious Heart."
Please share the personal story behind the song.
As I was preparing for my mission trip to Uganda, my daughter became sick after receiving the yellow fever shot. The doctor said, “Your daughter can die from the shot.” My anxiety reached a boiling point, and I began to freak out. So, she became sick, and I thought the worst. Of course, I lost my first wife to cancer, so I know those things can happen.
Thankfully, my daughter was only diagnosed with the flu, and she recovered before our Uganda trip, but the anxieties piled up. While on the journey, my fears overwhelmed me. I was doing outreach there, and it was incredible. We had 35,000 people and 1,000 people responding to the Gospel, so things were happening. But inside, I had this overwhelming fear, worry, and overprotection of my kids.
My overprotectiveness of my daughters was a failure to trust in the Lord. Even after the trip, I couldn’t shake these anxious feelings, but it came to a head during a subsequent trip to Israel when I collapsed after working out.
I did this set of push-ups and felt this weird welling inside me of panic that I couldn’t describe. I was overwhelmed by panic and found myself struggling to breathe. I called my wife, saying, "I need you now." This kind of feeling of hopelessness I had never experienced before.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 8:31(NKJV): "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Lamentations 3:22-23(NKJV): "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."
Psalm 23:4(VOICE): "Even in the unending shadows of death's darkness, I am not overcome by fear. Because You are with me in those dark moments, near with Your protection and guidance, I am comforted."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Philippians 1:6(NKJV): “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Philippians 4:6-7(NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 11:1(NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
What is the takeaway message?
My wife came and prayed for me, and it wasn’t until she laid her hands on me that I felt I could battle the fear and worry. This wasn’t the last incident, as I was anxious for several weeks.
I couldn’t go outside or get out of bed; my thoughts were consumed with irrational and dark fears. I’ve been a Christian my whole life, endured hardships, and seen God be faithful in massive ways. Watching my wife die, telling her to be with Jesus and for Him to be faithful to walk me through it. So, I know He’s there.
Finally, I cried out, "God, what is it? Please tell me." To my surprise, He answered me and pointed out three important things: my family, future, and money. I needed to learn to trust in God to protect what’s most important.
Writing “Anxious Heart” was therapeutic, but I found great comfort in Proverbs 3:5-6. Jesus breaks through the darkness and calms our anxious hearts. When God speaks, I hear a more authentic love than any fear or doubt. I
I’m learning to remember that He’s the one who’s in control of my anxious heart. May this serve as a reminder to anyone grappling with anxiety. God is the calm for all worries and doubts.
The only hope we have amid anxiety, stress, and fear is Jesus, understanding His love, faithfulness, and the scripture that says we were the joy set before Him to endure the cross. He loves us so much that He went to the cross for us.
Lyrics
Locked up, and I'm so in my head Heart starts racing, and I can't slow it down Hands shaking, and I'm losing my breath Paralyzed with a mind spinning out
My strength has grown weak No words left to speak I fall to my knees Cause I know what I need
You are the light when my world goes dark You hold me together when I'm torn apart And when my thoughts have run way too far You're the calm for my anxious heart You're the calm for my anxious heart You're the calm for my anxious heart
Wrapped up in the arms of Your love Stilled by the silence above all the noise Burden's light when You're lifting it up Fears terrified by the sound of Your voice
Cause You don't grow weak Your word is peace I fall to my knees Cause I know what I need
You are the light when my world goes dark You hold me together when I'm torn apart And when my thoughts have run way too far You're the calm for my anxious heart You're the calm for my anxious heart
You know everything about me You come and surround me And everything that holds my soul Falling in surrender Learning to remember You're the one who's in control
You are the light when my world goes dark You hold me together when I'm torn apart And when my thoughts have run way too far You're the calm for my anxious heart
You are the life when my breath is gone You are the hope when I'm stuck in the storm And I know this is still who You who are You're the calm for my anxious heart You're the calm for my anxious heart You're the calm for my anxious heart
Closing Thoughts
When You Speak includes a solid new collection of scripture-based songs and declaration-style anthems designed to inspire listeners to fight the good fight of faith.
Every morning, I pray to God to fill me with the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and self-control." If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from His love. If you think about the type of faith we’re called to have as believers, we describe it as the faith of a mustard seed.
Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires us to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not sight is that we can learn to trust God more fully. He tells us in the Bible that we can do anything in Christ with faith.
God’s love is never-ending. He is our refuge and strength. We serve a loving and merciful God who accepts us as we are, not whom we pretend to be. His mercy is new daily, not based on our performance or what we can do for God. He pours out His mercy despite what we've done; there's nothing we can do except trust in His Son, Jesus.
King David was a shepherd. When writing Psalm 23, he knew the Lord was his only guide and hope, the good shepherd of his soul. “Anxious Heart” is about submitting your worries, anxieties, and stress to God and letting Him guide you. He wants to walk beside you. He wants you to be bold and unafraid.
Reading the Bible strengthens me with the truth that fears, worry, and anxiety is not God's plans for my life. So, trust God's Word. Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter the circumstances. Our thoughts are constantly under attack by the enemy. The Bible says to trust what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. With many areas in our lives, especially as we’ve faced this pandemic, we’ve spent much time worrying and living in fear and anxiety.
"Anxious Heart" is a celebratory anthem about what it means to have hope in Christ. Those with anxiety disorders may find the first verse particularly emotional, as Jeremy describes the uncontrollable aspects of a panic attack. I have struggled with anxiety this past year, so this song soothes me.
It can be challenging to grasp the immense love of God, how He intimately knows us, and desires to fill our hearts with love. He knows our brokenness inside and out, and because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He sees us as righteous. God sees us as He sees His Son. It's not our righteousness, appearance or talent, or gifting. It’s just Jesus. This truth gives us cause to celebrate and sing out to Him: “You are the life when my breath is gone/You are the hope when I'm stuck in the storm/And I know this is still who You who are/You're the calm for my anxious heart.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid 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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