Personal Blog
Sharing Your Story
I discovered my faith in Jesus during a challenging upbringing that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" today. However, during the chaotic times of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply navigating through life. Little did we know that our experiences would later be categorized under a specific term. Nevertheless, it was during this period that Jesus personally impacted and transformed my life.
I went through a significant change in my life when someone assisted me in discovering and experiencing the overwhelming and inexplicable love that Jesus has for us.
The photo credit is given to Laura E. Part
In a single moment, my entire life was completely disrupted. It is this very love that has given me strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the moments of joy. I can confidently say that the course of my life was permanently altered when I experienced the love of God for the first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is the same. It is the driving force behind my profession as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can effectively convey this astounding truth. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood church years, or you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction, or perhaps you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. I have had conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who have faced immense challenges such as abuse, divorce, or grief, and they have expressed a desire to learn how to convey their pain and how God has supported them through it. James Finley suggests that God does not shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously upholds us through every situation.
However, the question remains: How can we effectively convey our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences in Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in contemplating the most effective ways to capture your personal stories in songs that will resonate with listeners and provide them with solace, restoration, and optimism.
To start, attempt to discover a unifying element in your narrative that resonates with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that people can relate to. To engage others with your story, it is important to create a connection by allowing them to see themselves in it. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better connect with and appreciate your narrative.
If your story fails to capture our attention and resonate with something we've personally experienced, we will lose interest. One of our friends and a former student of NCS, Becky Norquist, went through the heartbreaking experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily aims to support grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has suffered any form of loss – which includes all of us – can connect and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on portraying the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
I was introduced to Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, who once shared a memorable piece of advice. This piece of advice may seem contradictory at first, but it's actually complementary. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to refrain from including irrelevant details in your song that may confuse or distract the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other unnecessary specifics, there is a chance that the listener may lose interest.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that resonates with me, you engage me in your storytelling. If the specific elements of your story don't align with my own experiences, it may discourage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient details and not overwhelming the reader, focusing on conveying your emotions during the challenging situation and ultimately shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
A testimonial song is a musical expression that illustrates how God has achieved victory in your personal experiences.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your own story that may not be relatable to others. To effectively write a song, it can be helpful to look for examples of songs that evoke specific emotions and observe how the songwriters engage listeners without simply listing personal details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you're still in emotional pain and experiencing the aftermath of a traumatic event, it becomes challenging to authentically compose a song that reflects your experience. Expressing your raw emotions through lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered unless you're specifically creating a country song that resonates with people going through tough times. If that's the direction you want to take, then go ahead and pursue it, but it's important to acknowledge that it won't be a genuine testimonial, rather just a melancholic country tune.
Taking your audience into consideration, it becomes apparent that they likely have their own struggles and challenges to cope with. If you simply burden them with your own problems, they may not be willing to listen for an extended period of time. That is why professionals like therapists and journals exist. Their role is to serve as a receptacle for your personal issues and emotional pain. It is important to think about the impact of your lyrics on your listeners. What kind of emotional state are you inviting them to enter? How will they feel once they have heard your song?
I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job creating their uplifting praise song "My Testimony" that conveys a message grounded in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses solely on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that showcase how God's healing power triumphs over any negative circumstances. There are numerous ways to share your testimony, so it would be worth exploring alternative approaches rather than solely expressing your pain to the audience.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is one that portrays how God has conquered in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to recognize the distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the challenges you have faced and his ultimate triumph in your inner being, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, we explore testimony songs and various other topics over the course of eight weeks through online coaching and mentoring. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to enhance your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can click on the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call will help you determine if our program is suitable for your needs, and there is no obligation to commit. Take the opportunity to schedule your free call here.
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