Because I’ve done everything I can in my own strength to prepare, and even if I fall short, “I come in the name of the Lord,” you know? I have the strength of God. I’m going to teach in my daughter’s class next week on songwriting with, like, 17 kids. I think I’m more scared of that than performing for 5,000 at Kingdom Bound. But in either situation, I have to believe that God has equipped us to do whatever He’s called us to do. I’m answering your question in more of the strategic versus the spiritual, but I do still struggle with fear. However, I’m learning that fear is a lie. The trust is, I have what it takes to do what God has called me to do, now matter how I feel because I have Christ in me.

I love how David was faithful in just being a shepherd. He was faithful to do one thing at a time, yet he screwed up all the time. He made mistakes. But God said that he was a man after His own heart. I feel like anyone can apply that in their life.

CCM: Getting back to the music, what was it like working with Seth Mosley and Bryan Fowler—how did they take to your affinity for your pop music?
GS: [Laughs] Bryan only produced the first song and Seth did the other four. Bryan was more like, “Hey, let’s reign this in,” with regards to going in a more pop direction. I appreciated his wisdom. But Seth was like, “Yeah, yeah, let’s throw it in the mix. Let’s try it!”

CCM: What was it like to be able to collaborate with a guy like Paul Baloche, who actually wrote some of the very songs that were integral to your salvation?
GS: To have him just call me up one night while driving to my church and say, “Hey, this is Paul Baloche. I see on Facebook that you’re recording some worship songs at your church tonight and I’m excited for you. I just want pray for you and see if I can help you in any way?” I nearly swerved off the road. To then have him investing in me the last four years to being someone who helped me get a deal with Integrity Music, it’s like, “Are you kidding me?”

The fact that the night I popped in that Michael W. Smith DVD, a night that I considered committing suicide at 19 years old and had this encounter with God that was unexplainable, yet undeniable. The fact that the songs were “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Above All…” To then, the next day, walking into church and they’re singing “Above All” and to later discover that Paul had written those songs, it’s just so amazing.

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