Give Lanae Hale a listen

Last month during GMA week, Emily and I got a chance to sit down with up-and-coming singer Lanae Hale. She was geniune, funny, and down-to-earth. She made us laugh, told us about her battle with cutting, and spoke honestly about her struggle to believe that God really, truly loved her.

And we liked her for it. Because in a world in which most Christians, particularly those in the spotlight, like to say that faith makes their lives problem-free, Lanae's words struck a chord with us. She knew what it was like to feel forgotten, to wonder if you could indeed trust God with the desires of your heart, to wonder if the mistakes you've made and the scars on your soul are too much for God to handle. Lanae is someone who knows the truth of Jesus' words in John 16:33: "You will have suffering in this world." But she also knows the truth of His next words: "Be courageous! I have conquered the world!"

Later, after our conversation with Lanae, we got a chance to hear her perform some of her songs at a small dinner put on by her label. It was just Lanae and her guitar in a room full of media, publicists, and other singers and performers. She sang "Back and Forth," the title track on her album, and when she finished, the room was silent. The song was beautiful and Lanae's voice was astounding, but it was the combination of those things and the spirit with which she sang the lyrics that captured our attention. Here was a young woman who'd just put the cries of our hearts to words and left us standing before a Holy God who loves in a way we can't even fully wrap our brains around.

I understood then that Lanae knew what it's like to come before God with all the pain, mistakes, and fears you have and simply pour them out. To trust them to the One who made the universe, who created you, who bought our freedom at great sacrifice to Himself, and who desperately wants to have a relationship with you. She understood the humility of standing before God like that and simply saying, I don't know what You're doing. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. But I come to You trusting You can do all things.

Today, Lanae's album comes out. And we think you should give it a listen. You can even get a free download of it here. We don't think you'll be sorry!