Rising contemporary Christian artist Anne Wilson is an artist to watch. She is on a mission to spread the love of Jesus through her music. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the Christian singer-songwriter has lived a lot of life in her 21 years. In 2017, Anne's brother Jacob tragically died in a car accident. Her family could not find anyone to sing at the service. Anne stepped up and volunteered to sing. It was at that moment in the service in front of 1,000 people that God spoke to Anne and told her that music and ministry were what He was calling her to do with her life. Anne set aside her plans to become a NASA astronaut and said yes to the Lord's plan.
Anne is passionate about showing others it is not about religion, it's about a relationship with Jesus. In late 2017, a cover video of Anne singing "What A Beautiful Name" went viral on YouTube and caught the attention of music industry manager and executive Jason Davis. Over the following year, Anne became recognized in the music industry as a vocal powerhouse comparable to artists like Lauren Daigle, Ellie Holcomb, and Steffany Gretzinger.
By mid-2019, Anne started receiving multiple major record deal offers. Her debut, My Jesus, is not to be missed, featuring the hit "My Jesus," and follow-up singles "Hey Girl," and "Seventh of June." Rebel (The Beginning) EP is her latest release, which includes three new songs.
She exhibits the passion and confidence of a seasoned artist. Her songwriting is real, positive, and vulnerable, and her upbeat songs are a great way to celebrate our freedom in Christ. Anne is a great role model for girls. Her songs have connected with my daughters, and her biblically inspired lyrics represent how true happiness and her identity comes from her relationship with God. I had the chance to speak with Anne about her new song "Strong."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
In a world filled with challenges and obstacles, "Strong" reminds us of the inner fortitude that resides within us all. This song prays for God to provide us with the strength to face the obstacles that life throws us. The lyrics, "The world's gonna try and break me, but I know the one that makes me strong," have spoken to me personally as I've been exhausted and needed strength from being on the road all the time and from touring on Winter Jam earlier this year.
I wrote this song to remind myself and anyone else struggling that real strength isn't fighting our way through on our own. It's hitting your knees, looking up, and asking God to give you the strength you need to make it through.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 8:28 (VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."
Matthew 28:18-20 (VOICE): "Jesus came forward and addressed His beloved disciples. I am here speaking with all the authority of God, who has commanded Me to give you this commission: Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then disciple them. Form them in the practices and postures that I have taught you, and show them how to follow the commands I have laid down for you. And I will be with you, day after day, to the end of the age."
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
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."
What is the takeaway message?
My hope is listeners will feel empowered and ready to confront whatever life throws their way. I hope when you hear these three songs you feel what I feel. Heart, hope, Jesus, strength, faith, and the courage to move forward even if the path ahead is uncharted.
These three songs felt like the perfect way to begin the next chapter of my musical journey. And I've got a lot more songs I've been writing, so this truly feels like the beginning of something special.
Lyrics
Strong, try to make 'em all think I'm strong
Yeah the face I keep putting on says I ain't tired
But these tear-stained eyes ain't lying
'Cause hard, nobody told me life could be so hard
A weary soul with a worn-out heart that's barely beating
But every time I get that feeling
I hit my knees with my hands held high
Saying dear Lord Jesus you know I
Can't do this on my own
I can't do this on my own
Lord knows I've tried but I'm good at falling down
Thank God you're good at picking me up off the ground
The world's gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me
Strong
Strong, like my daddy always told me so
There's a place you can always go when you got nothing
And then he handed me the one thing
That's strong, doesn't matter how old it gets
There's power in the words in red in this old Bible
And when I'm desperate for revival
I'm strong when I got nothing
I'm strong even when I'm weak
'Cause the strong arms of my Savior
Are holding on to me
Prayer, when it looks like I ain't got a prayer
I keep talking 'cause I know He's everywhere that I go
So when I'm desperate for revival
Closing Thoughts
Sometimes Christians know facts about the Bible but don't live out the Truth that the Holy Spirit is living inside us. The beauty of walking by faith and not sight is that we can trust God. As followers of Jesus, we know we can trust God's Word. We are all a work in progress. Have faith and let God "work all things together for good."
A revival is something that God wants us to pray for, and biblically, we are commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel in the Great Commission. In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." There are no conditions or exceptions in that command. It's more of a lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as Christians. Do you feel your heart-stirring for a revival? The source of that stirring is "only by the Spirit and the Word of God." Once the Light of the Holy Spirit is in you, you can show that light to others as you live your daily life, including outside of a worship context. If you are doing everything for God's glory, then you are demonstrating the love of Jesus in every encounter you have with people.
Most of all, we must remember that God is the source of all hope, and it doesn't come from anything we do--we need to believe. This song is a wonderful reminder for the believer that being a Christian means we walk by faith, not sight. Faith requires people to rely on faith in the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to trust God more fully in our lives. The key as a follower of Jesus is to walk by faith and to be guided in the daily walk by prayer and God's infallible Word, the Bible.
Sometimes, you need to be ignited and ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit. We must pray daily that the Holy Spirit shines the Light of Jesus through us. With a fresh filling and singing along with this song, you can have the courage and excitement to live biblically. God tells us in the Bible that with faith we can do anything in Christ. It's a perfect truth you can use to get a daily reminder to not fear. One of the lessons I've seen about life is that we shouldn't wait to fix ourselves before we step out in faith. Look for ways to obey God and offer your faith to Him.
All we need is faith, and God will show us what He has planned for us. He's the author of our lives and knows what's best for us, much better than we do. Be encouraged by the light of Jesus shining in all of us based on our faith in Him, and personally, I am moved to know that Jesus is shining in me for all to see and believe. Join Anne in praying these words: "The world's gonna try to break me/But I know the one who makes me/Strong." 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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