On April 18, the Christian music industry was rocked by the sudden news that Mandisa had passed away in her home at the age of 48. Christian artists took to social media to honor the life of Mandisa, sharing stories of how she has impacted their lives.
At NewReleaseToday, we were also devastated by the news of Mandisa's passing. Her music has impacted each of us in unique ways, and some of us got to know her through interviews for the site. We wanted to honor her by sharing our own stories of what her music has meant to us and highlighting some of our favorite Mandisa songs. If you have a story of how Mandisa has impacted your life, join the conversation over on Facebook.
"Stronger"
As a writer for NewReleaseToday, I had the opportunity to meet Mandisa and interview her. She was an encouragement to me and my three daughters, and she will be missed. I had the pleasure of speaking with her about her song "Stronger." Here is an excerpt from our conversation: "When you really cling to Him and walk with Him, He shows you that there is nothing that you can't accomplish. We can do all things through Christ. I believe that more now than ever. I've heard that Scripture my whole life and now I really believe it."
I can't get enough of the worshipful chorus of "Stronger," which offers: "When the waves are taking you under, Hold on just a little bit longer/He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger/The pain ain't gonna last forever/And things can only get better." Mandisa is a great role model for girls struggling with identity issues. As Mandisa sings in "Stronger": "'Cause if He started this work in your life/He will be faithful to complete it/If only you believe it." What a great message. We love you and miss you, Mandisa. Thank you for inspiring us.
- Kevin Davis
"Overcomer"
My favorite Mandisa song has always been "Overcomer." I love the message in the song and I embrace its biblical truth. "You're an overcomer/Stay in the fight 'til the final round/You're not going under/'Cause God is holding you right now/You might be down for a moment/Feeling like it's hopeless/That's when He reminds You/That you're an overcomer/You're an overcomer."
This song always makes me think of Romans 8:31-37. Verse 37 says, "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us." It also reminds me of 1 John 5:4 which says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."
I've always admired Mandisa for making positivity genuine. Music often falls into a binary choice of sentimental faux positivity or jaded cynicism. Mandisa was a rare artist who could offer positive encouragement and make it feel like it came from a genuine place. You could tell that these words of encouragement were refined by surviving tribulations and struggles.
- Tommy G.
"Waiting For Tomorrow"
"Waiting For Tomorrow" has become one of my favorite Mandisa songs for exemplifying these traits against one of her most melodically memorable songs. Given how she was taken from us way too soon, the empowering words of this chorus hit so differently and take on a raw power: "I don't wanna look back and wonder/If good enough could've been better/Everyday's a day that's borrowed/So, why am I waiting for tomorrow."
Songs about seizing the moment are nothing new unto themselves. This song and its soaring chorus always struck me as deeper than the average "don't settle for less" song. So often, we coast through life accepting "good enough." This song challenges us to give life our all now because we don't want to catch ourselves one day wondering if we could've indeed done better had we just followed through on the convictions Christ has placed in our hearts. The song's power is helped by the authentic emotion Mandisa infused into every note. If we can honor Mandisa in one way, let's live the message of this song. Let's not wait for tomorrow to start living the life God has given us the grace to live.
- J.J. Francesco
"My Deliverer"
"My Deliverer" is one of the first Mandisa songs I remember hearing. In it, she focuses on one of God's many attributes, mainly Him being the Deliverer. This song reminds me of Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
"My Deliverer, You rescued me from all that held me captive/My Deliverer, You set me free/Now I'm alive and I can live/So every moment I will you give praise/My Deliverer." This song is a powerful reminder that we can trust and depend on God to deliver us from the things that hold us down.
- Felicia Holt
"Bleed The Same"
Throughout Mandisa's music, she wasn't afraid to touch on topics that she felt led to call out. In the middle of much social unrest in 2017, she released a rallying call for unity with her song "Bleed The Same." The song is a powerful anthem against racism, judgment, and hate between each other. The added prayer at the end by Kirk Franklin is a beautiful nod that especially brings the message of this impactful song together.
Even before this song was a radio hit, I loved "Bleed The Same" and the message it brings. It's a call for unity, love, and knowing we're in this together as flawed human beings needing a Savior to hold us together. The lyrics say, "Only love can drive out all the darkness/What are we fighting for/We were made to carry one another/We were made for more."
I hope moving forward, we see the message of this song come alive in our world, and that love triumphs over hate and darkness. Only Jesus and His love can ignite that change. It's one that Mandisa fought for and one we'll continue to fight for together.
- Bradden Ford
"Lifeline"
As a kid, I struggled with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Often, nothing would be able to calm me down. All I could do was wait and hope the storm would blow over. But sometimes, music brought me a little bit of hope and peace in the middle of the unrelenting panic attacks. One song in particular, "Lifeline" by Mandisa, brought so much comfort to me in the darkness of fear. It reminded me that Jesus was holding onto me even when it felt like I couldn't breathe.
My friend recommended the song to me, and I had it on repeat for days. The song is the last track on Mandisa's album What If We Were Real and could be considered a deep cut since it never made it to radio. But despite it being a less popular track, the lyrics felt like a life raft to me. "You are my lifeline, You are my rescue/Strength in my weakness, light in my darkness/You are my safety, lifter of my head/The air that I need when I can't seem to breathe in."
Mandisa was such a bright light, and she's already so missed. But I have a feeling these songs of hers will continue to reach people for years ahead. I'm so grateful for how her songs have impacted my life, and I know her legacy will live on.
Thank you, Mandisa.
- Grace Chaves
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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