Personal Blog Post
Sharing my Story of Finding Faith
My journey towards embracing Christianity began during my challenging upbringing that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" in today's terms. However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living our lives without realizing the significance of our experiences. Little did we know, Jesus would ultimately play a pivotal role in transforming my life.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in discovering the indescribable love that Jesus has for me.
The image was captured by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support throughout the past fifty years, encompassing both the highs and lows, the successes and failures, and the positive experiences as well. The pivotal moment that altered the course of my life occurred when I first experienced God's love at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is what keeps me going. It's the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can beautifully convey this incredible truth. The foundation of Nashville Christian Songwriters, and all the content we produce such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the love of Jesus to every person on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could also be that you have faced a significant loss in your life that left you broken. I have had conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who have expressed interest in our coaching programs, and many of them have endured great suffering, such as abuse or divorce. They are eager to learn how to convey their pain through music and how God has provided them with strength throughout their hardships. According to James Finley, God does not shield us from difficulties, but rather miraculously supports us through them.
However, the question remains, how do we effectively convey our personal stories and experiences through impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the joys and the hardships that come with it. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? In this regard, I have three suggestions that may assist you in considering the most impactful ways to capture your personal stories in songs that will resonate with listeners and provide them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To start with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that everyone can relate to. To engage people in your song, it is important to create a connection by allowing them to see themselves in your story. By incorporating elements that resonate with their own experiences, listeners are able to connect with your music on a deeper level and become emotionally invested in your narrative.
If there is nothing in your narrative that captures our attention and resonates with something we have personally faced, we will lose interest. One of our acquaintances, Becky Norquist, who is a former student of NCS, went through the difficult experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She has channeled her emotions and ministry towards supporting grieving families, but she has also skillfully incorporated broader themes in her songs that can resonate with anyone who has encountered any form of loss. This allows all of us, regardless of our individual experiences, to find something relatable and continue to engage with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher, say something that has stuck with me. It might seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The initial point is to discover a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that won't benefit the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like locations, dates, names, or other irrelevant information, you might end up losing the audience's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, you allow me to become a part of your narrative. If the specific details of your story do not align with my own experiences, it may deter me from fully engaging. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient details and avoiding overwhelming the audience, focusing on conveying your emotions during the difficult experience and ultimately highlighting how God intervened and brought redemption into your life.
… a song of testimony is one that demonstrates the victory of God in your personal experiences.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own experiences that may be difficult for others to relate to. To assist in writing a song, it can be helpful to study songs that capture the specific emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners in those emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and experiencing pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to authentically compose a song that reflects your true testimony. Expressing your pain too intensely through your lyrics may be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically aiming to create a traditional country song that revolves around heartbreak. If that is your intention, then you should pursue it, but it is important to understand that it would not be considered a genuine testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own problems to deal with. If you simply unload your own issues onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they are designed to be a receptacle for your personal struggles and pain. So, when crafting your lyrics, think about the impact they will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an energetic and uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broader message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's healing ability in overcoming negativity. There are countless approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be worth considering a few alternative methods before expressing your pain in a way that may be overwhelming for the audience.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that depicts how God achieved victory in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to remember that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing pent-up emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced and His ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you took to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and explore various other aspects. While many individuals may be interested in accessing free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to take your songwriting skills to the next level and have a deep desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call does not come with any obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine if this program is suitable for you. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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