I think I just had to settle within myself that this could actually be an amazing opportunity for someone who doesn’t know God and wouldn’t feel comfortable going to a church, but might feel comfortable going to the movie theater and maybe that’s how they encounter the presence of God? I saw a posting [from my cousin] on Facebook back when the film came out, and she was like, “Who’s gonna come and see a film here? My cousin’s in it.” I’m thinking, “She’s never once come with me to church before, or had any desire for that, but she is willing to go to a theater just to support her cousin—maybe she would have some questions about Jesus and who He is after being in a place where she felt comfortable.”

CCM: Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know…” How important is it for you, personally, to just step away, get into your prayer closet, and be still? Does that help your ability and your sense to wonder even more?
JH: I don’t have a prayer closet, but I know what you mean. Look, I think there’s numerous times where, in Jesus’ ministry, it mentions Him getting away from the crowds or pushing back and finding a solitary space, speaking to His Father and, I don’t know, probably just hanging out with His thoughts (which I would love to have been there for that). But I think it’s absolutely necessary. What we do is to kind-of peel back the layers, even in the process. I find that we spend a lot of time on the road or having to be places and, “Do this,” and, “Say this,” and sometimes that can become a crutch for your relationship with God because you’re in the action, so to speak.

And yet, having said that, I think God is good enough to work that way. There’s numerous times where the last thing I want to do is get on the stage and lead worship. I just don’t feel like it. I don’t feel like I have the energy, I don’t feel like singing for another three hours, and there’s something about getting up and doing it that, in ways that you can’t explain and that you don’t expect, revives your soul to a place where you pour it out like you never have before and are reminded, again, of just the opportunity that we have…and God is good like that.

Just being home is about being home, and it’s the things that I think really matter in life that sustain so much of my soul because every single one of them are important to God. Whether it be family, friends, serving in church… And for me, obviously, surfing. I like getting in the water, and it’s my time to just be alone with God. But I think people have to find that balance for themselves, but it doesn’t have to be as regimented or restrained as you have to go and find a closet and dwell in it for two hours in order to step into whatever it is that God’s got for you. But for some people, it might be.

We’ve been doing this for a long time now, and I’ve been through a lot of learning seasons—like thinking I’m doing the right things, when I fall flat on my face for all the right reasons. It takes a catastrophic fall to represent what pride does to us, but often, I think pride is seductive, and it can fool us under the veil of really good intentions. I think the challenge for our walk, whether you’re doing something that is perceived as platform ministry or singing songs—or whatever it might be—or whether it’s just trying to follow Jesus and walk with Him day in, day out, is to put ourselves on our knees. Metaphorically, literally, physically, geographically…whatever it might be. We need to be ready to either humble ourselves, or we’re going to find ourselves there anyway because one way or another, whoever we are, we all end up on our knees eventually. In time you learn the process gets easier if you put yourself there first, however it looks.

 

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