1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:12,737 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Did you know that Jesus Calling has its 2 00:00:12,737 --> 00:00:15,857 Speaker 1: own YouTube channel. It's full of great content that will 3 00:00:15,937 --> 00:00:19,416 Speaker 1: enhance your spiritual life. You'll find beautiful videos with short 4 00:00:19,417 --> 00:00:22,057 Speaker 1: devotional moments to help you through your day, as well 5 00:00:22,096 --> 00:00:26,057 Speaker 1: as stories on video from celebrities, authors, pastors, and everyday 6 00:00:26,096 --> 00:00:29,057 Speaker 1: people who share what their faith journey has meant to them. 7 00:00:29,337 --> 00:00:32,577 Speaker 1: You'll also find that Jesus Listens Stories of Prayer series 8 00:00:32,697 --> 00:00:37,777 Speaker 1: hosted by Susie McIntyre Eaton, featuring new guests monthly. Subscribe 9 00:00:37,817 --> 00:00:39,577 Speaker 1: today for new videos each week. 10 00:00:43,217 --> 00:00:44,897 Speaker 2: I never thought in a million years I'd do the 11 00:00:44,976 --> 00:00:47,217 Speaker 2: Voice so many years later, but my God has done 12 00:00:47,257 --> 00:00:49,857 Speaker 2: exceatingly abundling more than I saw. And it wasn't because 13 00:00:49,857 --> 00:00:51,417 Speaker 2: I was the best singer in the world or anything 14 00:00:51,457 --> 00:00:53,537 Speaker 2: like that. It was because I knew that God was 15 00:00:53,577 --> 00:00:57,057 Speaker 2: doing this and he wasn't wasting this opportunity for me. 16 00:00:58,497 --> 00:01:01,776 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. Our first guest is 17 00:01:01,857 --> 00:01:04,657 Speaker 1: Jeremy Risotto, who traced a path from New York City 18 00:01:04,737 --> 00:01:07,737 Speaker 1: dreams to the lights of American Idol and the Voice. 19 00:01:07,857 --> 00:01:10,377 Speaker 1: But the biggest spotlight in his life wasn't a stage. 20 00:01:10,497 --> 00:01:12,697 Speaker 1: It was the decision to lay down his music career 21 00:01:12,777 --> 00:01:15,097 Speaker 1: for a season to become a father to his niece. 22 00:01:15,537 --> 00:01:19,257 Speaker 1: Jeremy shares how choosing fatherhood over fame became a pivotal 23 00:01:19,297 --> 00:01:21,937 Speaker 1: act of faith and how God used the quiet waiting 24 00:01:22,017 --> 00:01:24,977 Speaker 1: years to prepare him for a powerful return to music. 25 00:01:25,857 --> 00:01:28,657 Speaker 1: Later in the episode, we'll hear from Nashville singer, songwriter 26 00:01:28,697 --> 00:01:31,937 Speaker 1: and author Jason Gray. Jason offers a vulnerable look into 27 00:01:31,977 --> 00:01:35,337 Speaker 1: his life, one shape by music but also by instability, 28 00:01:35,577 --> 00:01:38,937 Speaker 1: a painful childhood, divorce, and reckoning with his own difficult divorce. 29 00:01:39,497 --> 00:01:42,097 Speaker 1: Jason shares how the wounds he incurred became the very 30 00:01:42,217 --> 00:01:45,177 Speaker 1: doorway through which he met God. He reveals the radical 31 00:01:45,177 --> 00:01:48,817 Speaker 1: piece found in accepting divine love and unpacks why allowing 32 00:01:48,857 --> 00:01:51,537 Speaker 1: yourself to be loved in the most radical, powerful act 33 00:01:51,617 --> 00:01:54,537 Speaker 1: of faith. Let's begin with Jeremy's story. 34 00:01:57,377 --> 00:01:59,937 Speaker 2: Hey guys, my name is Jeremy Rosado. I am a 35 00:02:00,017 --> 00:02:02,817 Speaker 2: Christian recording artist. I've been doing music for a long time. 36 00:02:03,457 --> 00:02:06,457 Speaker 2: My album just came out. What a journey it's been. 37 00:02:06,617 --> 00:02:08,017 Speaker 2: I feel so blessed to be able to be here 38 00:02:08,017 --> 00:02:10,337 Speaker 2: with you guys, and I get to talk today and 39 00:02:10,657 --> 00:02:17,417 Speaker 2: just introduce myself. I excited, I grew up in a 40 00:02:17,457 --> 00:02:20,417 Speaker 2: Puerto Rican Brady Bunch is what I like to say. 41 00:02:21,577 --> 00:02:24,417 Speaker 2: I'm one of six. I grew up in New York City, 42 00:02:24,617 --> 00:02:29,217 Speaker 2: where it was loud and beautiful and very Latino. 43 00:02:29,297 --> 00:02:29,537 Speaker 3: Man. 44 00:02:30,137 --> 00:02:33,377 Speaker 2: My parents really poured into this dream of mine that 45 00:02:33,417 --> 00:02:35,017 Speaker 2: I've had. I was three years old when I told 46 00:02:35,017 --> 00:02:37,097 Speaker 2: my parents I was going to sing my whole life. 47 00:02:37,137 --> 00:02:39,977 Speaker 2: And fast forward to eleven years old, I told my dad, 48 00:02:40,017 --> 00:02:42,177 Speaker 2: I'm going to be on American Idol. And when I 49 00:02:42,177 --> 00:02:44,857 Speaker 2: think about all the things that God allowed me to 50 00:02:44,897 --> 00:02:48,337 Speaker 2: do and accomplish, it's pretty incredible and I'm really thankful 51 00:02:48,337 --> 00:02:50,777 Speaker 2: to be able to do this. I did American Idol 52 00:02:50,897 --> 00:02:54,257 Speaker 2: almost thirteen years ago, I mean the top thirteen of 53 00:02:54,297 --> 00:02:57,337 Speaker 2: Vidol to the live shows. I came off the show 54 00:02:57,377 --> 00:02:59,937 Speaker 2: and took a few months, went to Nashville to start 55 00:03:00,257 --> 00:03:05,017 Speaker 2: chasing this stream of mine and quickly realized that my 56 00:03:05,017 --> 00:03:06,897 Speaker 2: life was good to change and that there was a 57 00:03:06,937 --> 00:03:09,377 Speaker 2: decision to be made to step in and help and 58 00:03:09,857 --> 00:03:13,337 Speaker 2: become a father. I stepped into the role of becoming 59 00:03:13,377 --> 00:03:16,017 Speaker 2: a dad, and I took on full guardianship of my 60 00:03:16,137 --> 00:03:19,137 Speaker 2: daughter now who was biologically my niece, and man, that 61 00:03:19,257 --> 00:03:21,417 Speaker 2: was a journey I was like twenty two years old, 62 00:03:21,497 --> 00:03:24,457 Speaker 2: twenty three years old. She was about eleven years old, 63 00:03:24,497 --> 00:03:27,617 Speaker 2: and so laying the dream down to become a father 64 00:03:27,777 --> 00:03:29,817 Speaker 2: was a really tough decision in the moment, you know 65 00:03:29,777 --> 00:03:31,777 Speaker 2: what I mean. I was on what was the biggest 66 00:03:31,897 --> 00:03:34,457 Speaker 2: music TV show in the world back then, and the 67 00:03:34,537 --> 00:03:38,137 Speaker 2: momentum that was there. Even though that decision was not easy, 68 00:03:38,177 --> 00:03:40,097 Speaker 2: it was worth it and I would do it a 69 00:03:40,097 --> 00:03:43,977 Speaker 2: million times over for my child. God provided and made 70 00:03:43,977 --> 00:03:46,977 Speaker 2: wayte for us. And you know, I look back now 71 00:03:47,097 --> 00:03:50,017 Speaker 2: and even in the pain and the tears and it's 72 00:03:51,377 --> 00:03:58,137 Speaker 2: I can see his faithfulness and always carried us. Fast 73 00:03:58,137 --> 00:04:01,657 Speaker 2: forward so many years to the Voice. My daughter is 74 00:04:01,857 --> 00:04:04,537 Speaker 2: about to graduate high school. Timing couldn't have been better. 75 00:04:05,097 --> 00:04:07,017 Speaker 2: It wasn't really a normal thing for you to be 76 00:04:07,057 --> 00:04:09,417 Speaker 2: able to do American Idol and the Voice. Now it 77 00:04:09,497 --> 00:04:12,657 Speaker 2: seems more common, But then I was like, God, there's 78 00:04:12,657 --> 00:04:14,177 Speaker 2: no way that these people are going to put me 79 00:04:14,257 --> 00:04:16,337 Speaker 2: on this show after I did American Idol. And also 80 00:04:16,416 --> 00:04:19,097 Speaker 2: God like, if it doesn't happen, I'm gonna be okay, 81 00:04:19,577 --> 00:04:22,056 Speaker 2: help me redirect the feeling of this and help me 82 00:04:22,097 --> 00:04:24,736 Speaker 2: honestly more in this dream. Right, Let me grieve it 83 00:04:25,176 --> 00:04:27,576 Speaker 2: so that I can move forward and do something else 84 00:04:27,616 --> 00:04:31,937 Speaker 2: that's maybe within your plan, God, that would be beneficial 85 00:04:31,976 --> 00:04:34,496 Speaker 2: to my life, to my daughter's life, but also fulfill me. 86 00:04:35,137 --> 00:04:36,856 Speaker 2: I never thought in a million years I'd do the 87 00:04:36,897 --> 00:04:39,177 Speaker 2: Voice so many years later, but my God has done 88 00:04:39,217 --> 00:04:41,457 Speaker 2: exceedingly abundling more than I saw. And when I got 89 00:04:41,457 --> 00:04:43,657 Speaker 2: the email from the producers of the Voice asking if 90 00:04:43,657 --> 00:04:47,416 Speaker 2: I would do the show, I was just like, there's 91 00:04:47,457 --> 00:04:47,856 Speaker 2: no way. 92 00:04:47,897 --> 00:04:48,097 Speaker 3: God. 93 00:04:48,137 --> 00:04:50,976 Speaker 2: It gave me like renewed confidence in the God that 94 00:04:51,017 --> 00:04:54,136 Speaker 2: I serve and in my ability to like walk knowing 95 00:04:54,176 --> 00:04:56,496 Speaker 2: that He's with me and He's for me. When I 96 00:04:56,537 --> 00:04:59,736 Speaker 2: did the show, that trust and that reliance began to 97 00:04:59,777 --> 00:05:02,537 Speaker 2: grow even more. It felt like every room I walked into, 98 00:05:02,616 --> 00:05:05,816 Speaker 2: every stage I walked on, there was victory already there, 99 00:05:06,097 --> 00:05:09,497 Speaker 2: Jesus calling. I've had that little devotion, the pocket size 100 00:05:09,616 --> 00:05:13,296 Speaker 2: one in my book bag for years, and it was 101 00:05:13,537 --> 00:05:16,696 Speaker 2: pivotal for me as I was on the Voice, as 102 00:05:16,736 --> 00:05:20,537 Speaker 2: I was backstage, as I took daily time to make sure, 103 00:05:20,616 --> 00:05:22,976 Speaker 2: like God, I need you with me. It helped me 104 00:05:23,017 --> 00:05:25,137 Speaker 2: because it was bite sized. It would get me through 105 00:05:25,176 --> 00:05:28,097 Speaker 2: a moment backstage where like we're sitting there for three 106 00:05:28,217 --> 00:05:31,136 Speaker 2: four hours and I'm fighting doubt of like I'm not 107 00:05:31,176 --> 00:05:33,337 Speaker 2: going to win this battle, and it would keep me 108 00:05:33,376 --> 00:05:36,377 Speaker 2: going backstage at the Voice and be like, Okay, I'm 109 00:05:36,376 --> 00:05:38,976 Speaker 2: gonna be okay. God's with me, He's before me. It 110 00:05:39,017 --> 00:05:41,097 Speaker 2: reminded me of the victory that I had already sensed 111 00:05:41,137 --> 00:05:41,856 Speaker 2: that was there. 112 00:05:41,697 --> 00:05:43,097 Speaker 3: For me because of Jesus. 113 00:05:43,337 --> 00:05:44,856 Speaker 2: And it wasn't because I was the best singer in 114 00:05:44,897 --> 00:05:47,016 Speaker 2: the world or anything like that. It was because I 115 00:05:47,056 --> 00:05:49,816 Speaker 2: knew that God was doing this and he wasn't wasting 116 00:05:50,257 --> 00:05:54,137 Speaker 2: this opportunity for me. In the waiting season, there were 117 00:05:54,176 --> 00:05:57,697 Speaker 2: a handful of people that held me up when I couldn't. 118 00:05:58,296 --> 00:06:01,017 Speaker 2: God was the driving force in that right. My best 119 00:06:01,056 --> 00:06:04,616 Speaker 2: friend was there, my mom, my dad, my daughter, different 120 00:06:04,657 --> 00:06:06,657 Speaker 2: people that play a role, my teen you know, my 121 00:06:06,816 --> 00:06:09,336 Speaker 2: n R Guy Garretto has been one of my closest 122 00:06:09,337 --> 00:06:12,297 Speaker 2: people this whole time. Just reminding me of the thing 123 00:06:12,376 --> 00:06:14,857 Speaker 2: that God called me to do, and that he who 124 00:06:14,897 --> 00:06:18,097 Speaker 2: began the good thing would see that to completion. Those 125 00:06:18,137 --> 00:06:21,376 Speaker 2: people were people that held me out. Man, it's here 126 00:06:21,496 --> 00:06:24,736 Speaker 2: in the room. What a life song for me, truly, 127 00:06:25,897 --> 00:06:28,696 Speaker 2: my therapy song, my healing song. I got to be 128 00:06:28,736 --> 00:06:31,217 Speaker 2: the hero for my daughter, but there's been moments in 129 00:06:31,257 --> 00:06:33,296 Speaker 2: which she's gotten to be the hero for me, and 130 00:06:33,337 --> 00:06:35,256 Speaker 2: I think that that's a beautiful, beautiful picture. 131 00:06:37,657 --> 00:06:41,256 Speaker 1: To learn more about Jeremy Rosotto, visit www dot I 132 00:06:41,296 --> 00:06:44,417 Speaker 1: am Jeremyrosotto dot com and be sure to check out 133 00:06:44,457 --> 00:06:48,176 Speaker 1: his new album, The Waiting Room out now. Stay tuned 134 00:06:48,217 --> 00:06:58,537 Speaker 1: to Jason Gray's story after a brief message. Teens today 135 00:06:58,577 --> 00:07:01,456 Speaker 1: face more pressure than ever. If you're looking for a 136 00:07:01,496 --> 00:07:04,816 Speaker 1: way to bring calm, clarity, and faith into their everyday lives, 137 00:07:05,657 --> 00:07:09,657 Speaker 1: ten edition of Jesus Calling is here to help. This 138 00:07:09,737 --> 00:07:13,137 Speaker 1: well loved teen edition has been refreshed with a brand new, 139 00:07:13,297 --> 00:07:16,857 Speaker 1: modern cover, making it even more inviting for today's teens. 140 00:07:17,857 --> 00:07:20,297 Speaker 1: Jesus Calling for Teens is a three hundred and sixty 141 00:07:20,337 --> 00:07:22,777 Speaker 1: five day devotional and cuts through the noise of an 142 00:07:22,816 --> 00:07:27,137 Speaker 1: overwhelming world. Each short entry offers peace when anxiety creeps 143 00:07:27,137 --> 00:07:30,937 Speaker 1: in and comfort when they feel alone. Every day brings 144 00:07:30,937 --> 00:07:34,537 Speaker 1: them grounding scripture, gentle biblical guidance, and a moment to 145 00:07:34,617 --> 00:07:37,937 Speaker 1: pause and connect with Jesus in a meaningful way. The 146 00:07:38,017 --> 00:07:41,577 Speaker 1: teen edition is perfect for building morning quiet time, youth groups, 147 00:07:41,697 --> 00:07:45,097 Speaker 1: small groups, or simply building a steady daily rhythm with 148 00:07:45,137 --> 00:07:48,297 Speaker 1: God and with Jesus Calling. Available for adults and kids. 149 00:07:48,617 --> 00:07:51,857 Speaker 1: Families can grow together and share the journey. If a 150 00:07:51,897 --> 00:07:54,817 Speaker 1: teen in your life is looking for direction, reassurance, or 151 00:07:54,857 --> 00:07:58,216 Speaker 1: a deeper relationship with Jesus, this devotional gives them daily 152 00:07:58,257 --> 00:08:02,456 Speaker 1: reminders that they're seen, loved, and never alone. Find the 153 00:08:02,497 --> 00:08:05,337 Speaker 1: Teen Edition of Jesus Calling wherever. 154 00:08:04,937 --> 00:08:05,497 Speaker 3: Books are sold. 155 00:08:12,577 --> 00:08:15,696 Speaker 1: Our next guest is Jason Gray, a singer, songwriter and 156 00:08:15,737 --> 00:08:19,016 Speaker 1: now author. Jason grew up surrounded by music, but also 157 00:08:19,057 --> 00:08:24,216 Speaker 1: by instability, heartbreak, and silence. As a child navigating his parents' divorce, 158 00:08:24,417 --> 00:08:27,256 Speaker 1: he encountered wounds that would shape his voice, both literally 159 00:08:27,337 --> 00:08:31,096 Speaker 1: and spiritually. Today, Jason shares how music became his meeting 160 00:08:31,097 --> 00:08:34,337 Speaker 1: place with God, and how pain became a doorway rather 161 00:08:34,417 --> 00:08:36,977 Speaker 1: than a dead end, and how learning to be loved 162 00:08:37,137 --> 00:08:38,057 Speaker 1: changed everything. 163 00:08:40,177 --> 00:08:44,577 Speaker 3: My name is Jason Gray, and I'm a singer, songwriter 164 00:08:44,777 --> 00:08:54,417 Speaker 3: and hopeful author. I grew up in Minnesota. I now 165 00:08:54,457 --> 00:08:58,457 Speaker 3: live in Nashville, Tennessee, and I also host the national 166 00:08:58,617 --> 00:09:03,977 Speaker 3: radio show for a serious XEM the message called Acoustic Storytime. 167 00:09:04,177 --> 00:09:09,737 Speaker 3: And I'm always on the road, so I'll probably be 168 00:09:09,777 --> 00:09:13,457 Speaker 3: in your neighborhood soon doing a concert or something. And 169 00:09:13,937 --> 00:09:16,737 Speaker 3: at the top here I feel like I want to 170 00:09:16,777 --> 00:09:20,937 Speaker 3: make people aware that if they've never heard me before, 171 00:09:21,457 --> 00:09:28,817 Speaker 3: I do suffer from a speech handicap known as stuttering. 172 00:09:28,977 --> 00:09:31,817 Speaker 3: There it is right there, So I just wanted people 173 00:09:31,977 --> 00:09:33,977 Speaker 3: to be aware of that, so you're not worried about me, 174 00:09:34,017 --> 00:09:38,457 Speaker 3: because I'm not nervous. It's just what I do. So 175 00:09:39,857 --> 00:09:43,137 Speaker 3: I didn't grow up in the church at all, but 176 00:09:43,217 --> 00:09:45,057 Speaker 3: I did grow up on the road with my mom's 177 00:09:45,537 --> 00:09:48,457 Speaker 3: rock and roll bar band. I did grow up around 178 00:09:48,497 --> 00:09:53,377 Speaker 3: a lot of music, so I suppose it's no surprise 179 00:09:53,977 --> 00:09:56,097 Speaker 3: that the first time that I heard God speaking to 180 00:09:56,137 --> 00:09:59,657 Speaker 3: me was through music. It was through a song by 181 00:09:59,817 --> 00:10:05,377 Speaker 3: the first group that I loved. My parents were in 182 00:10:05,417 --> 00:10:09,817 Speaker 3: the midst of a very ugly divorce, and that's where 183 00:10:10,057 --> 00:10:16,937 Speaker 3: my speech handicap first manifested. As I understand it, you 184 00:10:17,017 --> 00:10:23,417 Speaker 3: are genetically predisposed to stuttering, and then it usually waits 185 00:10:23,457 --> 00:10:27,457 Speaker 3: for some kind of traumatic event to trigger it, and 186 00:10:27,857 --> 00:10:31,697 Speaker 3: for me, it was the divorce of my parents, and 187 00:10:31,737 --> 00:10:35,537 Speaker 3: so that's the enduring scar that I have from that 188 00:10:36,457 --> 00:10:39,417 Speaker 3: time in my life. We were living at my grandparents' 189 00:10:39,417 --> 00:10:42,256 Speaker 3: house and I didn't have my own room, so I'm 190 00:10:42,257 --> 00:10:45,457 Speaker 3: sleeping on the couch every night. My grandpa was a 191 00:10:45,457 --> 00:10:47,777 Speaker 3: good man. He was a good man, he was my 192 00:10:48,057 --> 00:10:51,097 Speaker 3: best friend. But he was also an alcoholic, so there 193 00:10:51,177 --> 00:10:56,537 Speaker 3: was a lot of volatility, a lot of chaos. And 194 00:10:56,617 --> 00:10:59,657 Speaker 3: God knew how to cut through all of that and 195 00:10:59,737 --> 00:11:01,977 Speaker 3: speak the thing that he wanted me to hear in 196 00:11:02,297 --> 00:11:04,217 Speaker 3: the way that he knew that I could understand it. 197 00:11:05,617 --> 00:11:08,017 Speaker 3: So one day when I was out doing errands with 198 00:11:08,057 --> 00:11:12,897 Speaker 3: my grandpa, and it was January in Minnesota, so he 199 00:11:12,977 --> 00:11:16,017 Speaker 3: left the car running when he went into the liquor store, 200 00:11:16,577 --> 00:11:18,497 Speaker 3: and I'm sitting in the car and over the radio 201 00:11:18,577 --> 00:11:21,577 Speaker 3: comes a song by my favorite group, Simon and Garfunkle 202 00:11:22,377 --> 00:11:26,977 Speaker 3: Bridge over Troubled Water. And if you've never heard the song, 203 00:11:27,257 --> 00:11:32,257 Speaker 3: the lyric goes, when you're weary, when you're feeling small, 204 00:11:32,297 --> 00:11:34,617 Speaker 3: when tears are in your eyes, I will drive them 205 00:11:34,617 --> 00:11:37,977 Speaker 3: all like a bridge over troubled water. I will lay 206 00:11:38,057 --> 00:11:40,937 Speaker 3: me down for you. And I was a little boy 207 00:11:41,537 --> 00:11:45,657 Speaker 3: hearing those lyrics, and I was feeling all those things, 208 00:11:46,377 --> 00:11:50,857 Speaker 3: and all of a sudden, I had this profound sense 209 00:11:50,897 --> 00:11:54,617 Speaker 3: of a loving presence in the car with me, and 210 00:11:54,657 --> 00:11:58,497 Speaker 3: as though it was holding me, and it was saying, Hey, 211 00:11:59,177 --> 00:12:01,297 Speaker 3: the words of this song that you love so much, 212 00:12:01,857 --> 00:12:04,777 Speaker 3: this is my heart towards you when you're weary, when 213 00:12:04,777 --> 00:12:06,897 Speaker 3: you're feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I 214 00:12:06,897 --> 00:12:09,377 Speaker 3: will drive them all like a bridge or a troubled water. 215 00:12:10,817 --> 00:12:12,817 Speaker 3: And I believed it, you know. And I didn't have 216 00:12:12,897 --> 00:12:16,136 Speaker 3: any context for that experience, Like, you know, nobody was 217 00:12:16,977 --> 00:12:22,057 Speaker 3: talking to me about God or interpret things songs spiritually 218 00:12:22,137 --> 00:12:24,337 Speaker 3: or anything like that. It's just an experience I had, 219 00:12:25,017 --> 00:12:35,537 Speaker 3: and the language for it would come many years later. So, 220 00:12:35,857 --> 00:12:40,297 Speaker 3: from a very young age, I was drawn to music 221 00:12:40,937 --> 00:12:44,017 Speaker 3: and it has always been one of the places that 222 00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:46,137 Speaker 3: I meet with God and one of the ways through 223 00:12:46,177 --> 00:12:49,617 Speaker 3: which He speaks. And so I remember as a third 224 00:12:49,697 --> 00:12:55,017 Speaker 3: grader walking home from school and having a sense, I 225 00:12:55,057 --> 00:12:58,297 Speaker 3: think I'm on planet Earth to do music. And I've 226 00:12:58,337 --> 00:13:01,897 Speaker 3: been pursuing that ever since. It's something I have pursued 227 00:13:02,737 --> 00:13:07,417 Speaker 3: in spite of myself. Quincy Jones, the producer, he said 228 00:13:07,417 --> 00:13:11,897 Speaker 3: that music is the voice of God, and that's what 229 00:13:11,937 --> 00:13:18,657 Speaker 3: I've experienced as well. I believe that when something connects 230 00:13:18,697 --> 00:13:24,577 Speaker 3: us to our own heart, then in that same moment, 231 00:13:25,337 --> 00:13:31,057 Speaker 3: worship spontaneously happens, and we are connected with the divine 232 00:13:31,537 --> 00:13:35,057 Speaker 3: in that moment. Music has a way of connecting me 233 00:13:35,097 --> 00:13:39,137 Speaker 3: to my heart and therefore brings me to the place 234 00:13:39,137 --> 00:13:42,817 Speaker 3: where God meets with me. Here's an author I love 235 00:13:43,137 --> 00:13:48,857 Speaker 3: whose work has been very formational in my Life's name 236 00:13:48,897 --> 00:13:55,057 Speaker 3: is Fredbiechner, and he talks about you can recognize the 237 00:13:55,097 --> 00:13:59,497 Speaker 3: holy places in your life by noticing when you lose 238 00:13:59,577 --> 00:14:03,097 Speaker 3: track of time. If you love it tinkering on a car, 239 00:14:03,337 --> 00:14:07,777 Speaker 3: or working in the garden, or listen to music or 240 00:14:08,257 --> 00:14:12,137 Speaker 3: conversation with a friend, those moments where you lose track 241 00:14:12,177 --> 00:14:18,537 Speaker 3: of time and you forget yourself indicates that you're on 242 00:14:18,617 --> 00:14:22,617 Speaker 3: holy ground. I think it's so beautiful right. It just 243 00:14:22,657 --> 00:14:24,097 Speaker 3: means we just have to pay a little bit of 244 00:14:24,097 --> 00:14:30,497 Speaker 3: attention and discover that we we're always stumbling on the 245 00:14:30,497 --> 00:14:41,497 Speaker 3: holy ground. The Lord has usually come to me through 246 00:14:41,537 --> 00:14:47,057 Speaker 3: other people. As inconsistent and as unreliable as we often are, 247 00:14:47,657 --> 00:14:53,977 Speaker 3: he demonstrates that we are still his preferred delivery system 248 00:14:54,057 --> 00:14:59,337 Speaker 3: for his love in the world. In the midst of 249 00:14:59,377 --> 00:15:03,857 Speaker 3: my divorce, that was laying on the bathroom floor at 250 00:15:03,897 --> 00:15:08,577 Speaker 3: three am, crying out to a God who I wasn't 251 00:15:08,577 --> 00:15:10,737 Speaker 3: sure if he was there anymore, because it seemed like 252 00:15:10,817 --> 00:15:13,417 Speaker 3: most time I was only here in a dial tone, 253 00:15:13,857 --> 00:15:17,137 Speaker 3: and I was afraid that my life that I'd always 254 00:15:18,337 --> 00:15:22,937 Speaker 3: felt he held was slipping through his hands. You know, 255 00:15:23,457 --> 00:15:27,377 Speaker 3: I'm just weeping, and all of a sudden, I hear 256 00:15:27,537 --> 00:15:33,577 Speaker 3: these quiet words in my spirit or what if this 257 00:15:33,737 --> 00:15:37,737 Speaker 3: is all right on time? It was just those words 258 00:15:37,857 --> 00:15:43,697 Speaker 3: right on time that I began to see how it 259 00:15:43,777 --> 00:15:47,297 Speaker 3: could be that everything that had happened my whole life, 260 00:15:48,057 --> 00:15:53,537 Speaker 3: all the painful things, everything was leading to this moment 261 00:15:54,857 --> 00:15:57,937 Speaker 3: to break me open enough to be able to receive 262 00:15:59,577 --> 00:16:03,537 Speaker 3: the transformation that I had been praying for for as 263 00:16:03,537 --> 00:16:06,977 Speaker 3: long as I could remember. And that gave me a 264 00:16:07,017 --> 00:16:11,737 Speaker 3: sense of peace and helped me to feel like I 265 00:16:11,817 --> 00:16:14,577 Speaker 3: was no longer at the mercy of the storms of 266 00:16:14,577 --> 00:16:19,417 Speaker 3: my life, but that this storm held within it the 267 00:16:19,497 --> 00:16:23,097 Speaker 3: power to make me who I'd always wanted to be, 268 00:16:23,217 --> 00:16:29,457 Speaker 3: you know. And it moved me from anxious resistance of 269 00:16:29,497 --> 00:16:33,137 Speaker 3: the trouble in my life to a kind of teachable acceptance. 270 00:16:33,817 --> 00:16:37,497 Speaker 3: And I was helpful, and that has stayed with me. 271 00:16:38,297 --> 00:16:40,177 Speaker 3: There was this one moment I was on tour. I 272 00:16:40,217 --> 00:16:42,377 Speaker 3: was in the back lounge of the tour bus with 273 00:16:42,417 --> 00:16:47,097 Speaker 3: my friend Andy calla Horn, and I was in the 274 00:16:47,137 --> 00:16:51,017 Speaker 3: worst of all the painful things that were happening in 275 00:16:51,057 --> 00:16:53,257 Speaker 3: my marriage, and he asked me how I was doing, 276 00:16:54,017 --> 00:16:56,377 Speaker 3: like he really meant it, and I just kind of 277 00:16:56,417 --> 00:16:58,137 Speaker 3: opened up to him and just just kind of told 278 00:16:58,217 --> 00:17:01,737 Speaker 3: him everything. And then I braced myself because I thought, Okay, 279 00:17:01,817 --> 00:17:06,257 Speaker 3: now he's going to start offering me answers by verses 280 00:17:06,417 --> 00:17:09,536 Speaker 3: or unasked for encouragement. Here it comes, you know, so 281 00:17:09,577 --> 00:17:12,776 Speaker 3: that he can feel useful. And he didn't do that, 282 00:17:13,297 --> 00:17:15,377 Speaker 3: and what he did instead became one of the most 283 00:17:15,417 --> 00:17:19,297 Speaker 3: healing moments in my life. He said, Okay, here's what 284 00:17:19,337 --> 00:17:21,177 Speaker 3: I want you to do, Jason. I want you to 285 00:17:21,257 --> 00:17:23,737 Speaker 3: stand up with me, and I'm going to hug you 286 00:17:24,137 --> 00:17:25,976 Speaker 3: and I'm going to hold you, and you have to 287 00:17:26,057 --> 00:17:30,016 Speaker 3: let me for two minutes. I stood up and Andy 288 00:17:30,177 --> 00:17:34,177 Speaker 3: hugged me and he was holding me, and at first 289 00:17:34,217 --> 00:17:37,657 Speaker 3: I was laughing just because I felt awkward, and then 290 00:17:37,657 --> 00:17:41,897 Speaker 3: I started crying, and then I started ugly crying, you know, 291 00:17:41,977 --> 00:17:43,817 Speaker 3: and then by the end I had just kind of 292 00:17:45,537 --> 00:17:51,017 Speaker 3: surrendered all of it, and I was slumped there in 293 00:17:51,057 --> 00:17:53,977 Speaker 3: the arms of my friend, who didn't say a word 294 00:17:54,017 --> 00:17:55,696 Speaker 3: but what he was saying was so clear. Right. He 295 00:17:55,737 --> 00:17:58,417 Speaker 3: was saying, You're loved, You're not alone, and everything's going 296 00:17:58,497 --> 00:18:02,177 Speaker 3: to be okay. And in that moment, that was the 297 00:18:02,257 --> 00:18:12,697 Speaker 3: embrace of God to me. I think there's a lot 298 00:18:12,737 --> 00:18:15,817 Speaker 3: of layers to how I've feeled from my anger. I 299 00:18:15,817 --> 00:18:18,497 Speaker 3: think first of all, I had to come to a 300 00:18:18,537 --> 00:18:25,936 Speaker 3: place of trust that I could bring my anger to God. 301 00:18:26,017 --> 00:18:33,537 Speaker 3: You know, a lot of my anger also arose from 302 00:18:33,897 --> 00:18:41,137 Speaker 3: ideas that I inherited about how God should conduct himself 303 00:18:41,177 --> 00:18:43,257 Speaker 3: and what I can expect from him. So a lot 304 00:18:43,297 --> 00:18:47,097 Speaker 3: of that was my own expectations. That's usually how it works, 305 00:18:47,177 --> 00:18:52,457 Speaker 3: right with God. With other people, it's our own expectations 306 00:18:52,497 --> 00:18:58,936 Speaker 3: that have created an opportunity for anger and resentment. When 307 00:18:58,977 --> 00:19:03,617 Speaker 3: somebody is hurting or angry, especially if they're angry with you, 308 00:19:04,377 --> 00:19:08,177 Speaker 3: the three most loving words you can speak or tell 309 00:19:08,217 --> 00:19:12,177 Speaker 3: me more. And what you want to do is you 310 00:19:12,177 --> 00:19:16,016 Speaker 3: want to get them talking and give them a safe 311 00:19:16,017 --> 00:19:20,857 Speaker 3: place to air their grievances. And in that moment, you 312 00:19:20,937 --> 00:19:24,737 Speaker 3: may be tempted to defend yourself or to explain yourself 313 00:19:25,057 --> 00:19:30,057 Speaker 3: or correct inaccuracies, and you can do that if you 314 00:19:30,097 --> 00:19:33,696 Speaker 3: want to, but then you will miss an opportunity for 315 00:19:33,777 --> 00:19:36,696 Speaker 3: some kind of healing that happens. And it's the curse 316 00:19:36,737 --> 00:19:42,617 Speaker 3: of futility, right that no matter what I do, it 317 00:19:42,617 --> 00:19:48,657 Speaker 3: will never be enough. It will be frustrated at every turn, 318 00:19:49,137 --> 00:19:51,016 Speaker 3: and it's only a hop, skip and a jump from 319 00:19:51,057 --> 00:19:53,737 Speaker 3: there too. No matter what I do, I'm afraid I'll 320 00:19:53,777 --> 00:19:57,777 Speaker 3: never be enough. And I think that that is the 321 00:19:57,817 --> 00:20:02,577 Speaker 3: core wound in every human heart. I'm afraid, no matter 322 00:20:02,617 --> 00:20:06,377 Speaker 3: what I do, I'll never be enough. And so I 323 00:20:06,417 --> 00:20:11,217 Speaker 3: think our sin comes in the ways that we compulsively 324 00:20:11,257 --> 00:20:15,777 Speaker 3: try to address that, you know, and deal with that, 325 00:20:15,857 --> 00:20:20,777 Speaker 3: because most of our sin, to me, looks like attempts 326 00:20:20,817 --> 00:20:26,377 Speaker 3: to assure ourselves that we're enough. Right, A person who 327 00:20:26,457 --> 00:20:32,736 Speaker 3: turns to pornography to enter a fantasy world where they 328 00:20:32,777 --> 00:20:36,977 Speaker 3: can imagine themselves wanted with no risk of rejection. Right 329 00:20:37,777 --> 00:20:43,097 Speaker 3: workaholism where I can prove my merit even if it 330 00:20:43,137 --> 00:20:46,617 Speaker 3: destroys my marriage, and I have no friends. All the 331 00:20:46,657 --> 00:20:50,017 Speaker 3: things that we do, you know, like if I, if 332 00:20:50,017 --> 00:20:55,617 Speaker 3: I look underneath them, it looks like I'm looking for 333 00:20:55,697 --> 00:20:57,976 Speaker 3: love in all the wrong places, right, which is that 334 00:20:58,017 --> 00:21:03,537 Speaker 3: old country song. But the antidote for all of that, 335 00:21:03,657 --> 00:21:09,177 Speaker 3: I believe is to run to Jesus, who says that 336 00:21:09,697 --> 00:21:14,696 Speaker 3: you're enough because I say so, and when I allow 337 00:21:14,817 --> 00:21:18,897 Speaker 3: him to, when I just let myself be radically loved. 338 00:21:19,257 --> 00:21:23,137 Speaker 3: I think that's the most radical thing that I can do, 339 00:21:23,257 --> 00:21:27,256 Speaker 3: is just to let myself be loved. And when I 340 00:21:27,297 --> 00:21:30,737 Speaker 3: do that and I'm reminded of who I am, all 341 00:21:30,737 --> 00:21:37,936 Speaker 3: those other compulsions fall away, right, And so I think 342 00:21:38,617 --> 00:21:44,736 Speaker 3: the antidote to all of my striving, my regret, my 343 00:21:44,857 --> 00:21:50,577 Speaker 3: insecurity is simply to turn to Jesus and see his 344 00:21:51,017 --> 00:21:54,737 Speaker 3: arms stretched out wide, and there I can see that, oh, 345 00:21:54,937 --> 00:22:00,017 Speaker 3: shoot he is that's my name. They're carved in the 346 00:22:00,057 --> 00:22:03,577 Speaker 3: palm of his hand. He loves me that much, and 347 00:22:03,617 --> 00:22:05,177 Speaker 3: then all those other things just kind of lose their 348 00:22:05,217 --> 00:22:11,217 Speaker 3: hold for me. When I was a young man, somebody 349 00:22:11,457 --> 00:22:13,857 Speaker 3: gave me a book called The Practice of the Presence 350 00:22:13,897 --> 00:22:17,257 Speaker 3: of God by brother Lawrence, and he was a monk 351 00:22:17,297 --> 00:22:22,577 Speaker 3: from like six hundred years ago, and the idea in 352 00:22:22,657 --> 00:22:27,897 Speaker 3: it was that you can stay in continual conversation with 353 00:22:28,017 --> 00:22:31,857 Speaker 3: the Lord. And I've tried to practice that, you know, 354 00:22:31,937 --> 00:22:38,017 Speaker 3: So if I'm watching a movie, I am in conversation 355 00:22:38,537 --> 00:22:40,777 Speaker 3: with the Holy Spirit about it. If I'm here in 356 00:22:40,777 --> 00:22:45,057 Speaker 3: a podcast or you know, I'm trying to always be 357 00:22:45,417 --> 00:22:50,537 Speaker 3: in communication with the Holy Spirit, to do it in 358 00:22:50,537 --> 00:22:54,456 Speaker 3: a more intentional way each day. The way that I 359 00:22:54,497 --> 00:22:56,937 Speaker 3: have observed how God works in my life is that 360 00:22:57,017 --> 00:22:59,457 Speaker 3: if I get connected to my own heart, all of 361 00:22:59,497 --> 00:23:04,297 Speaker 3: a sudden, He's meeting with me there. I think. I 362 00:23:04,337 --> 00:23:09,537 Speaker 3: think the Bible is beautiful and that it is meant 363 00:23:09,577 --> 00:23:14,417 Speaker 3: to be at least I experience it as training us 364 00:23:14,457 --> 00:23:17,897 Speaker 3: in wisdom and teaching us to recognize the voice of 365 00:23:17,937 --> 00:23:22,337 Speaker 3: God and to be a people who are spirit led. 366 00:23:23,417 --> 00:23:26,936 Speaker 3: It helps us to tune into the still small voice. 367 00:23:27,137 --> 00:23:34,216 Speaker 3: Now we can become afraid of the trust or the 368 00:23:34,257 --> 00:23:41,297 Speaker 3: discernment that that requires, and so we may exclusively rely 369 00:23:41,697 --> 00:23:46,657 Speaker 3: on Okay, it's like this. If I love the Bible 370 00:23:47,537 --> 00:23:50,537 Speaker 3: so much that I only allow God to speak to 371 00:23:50,577 --> 00:23:55,337 Speaker 3: me through it, rather than allowing it to train me 372 00:23:55,417 --> 00:23:58,817 Speaker 3: to be more in tune with the still small voice, 373 00:23:59,017 --> 00:24:02,137 Speaker 3: the voice of the Holy Spirit, then I've probably loved 374 00:24:02,177 --> 00:24:06,617 Speaker 3: it too much, and so try to use the Bible 375 00:24:07,217 --> 00:24:12,497 Speaker 3: to help me hear God speak to me in intimately 376 00:24:12,657 --> 00:24:20,857 Speaker 3: personal ways. I'm reading from Jesus Listens December twentieth, So 377 00:24:20,897 --> 00:24:22,497 Speaker 3: you have a guy with the speech handicap is not 378 00:24:22,537 --> 00:24:24,817 Speaker 3: going to read to you. You're welcome or here we go. 379 00:24:26,337 --> 00:24:30,297 Speaker 3: Gracious God, the Bible promises that those who wait for 380 00:24:30,337 --> 00:24:34,097 Speaker 3: you will gain new strength. I love to spend time 381 00:24:34,137 --> 00:24:39,496 Speaker 3: waiting in your presence, even though multitasking and staying busy 382 00:24:39,537 --> 00:24:42,817 Speaker 3: have become the norm. So I come to you with 383 00:24:42,857 --> 00:24:48,177 Speaker 3: my weariness and burdens, Being candidly real with you. While 384 00:24:48,177 --> 00:24:52,377 Speaker 3: I rest in your presence and tell you about my concerns, 385 00:24:52,417 --> 00:24:57,177 Speaker 3: you lift heavy burdens from my aching shoulders. I'm grateful 386 00:24:57,337 --> 00:24:59,577 Speaker 3: that you are able to do immeasurably more than all 387 00:24:59,617 --> 00:25:03,497 Speaker 3: I ask or imagine. As I arise from these quiet 388 00:25:03,497 --> 00:25:08,017 Speaker 3: moments with you, I delight hearing you whisper I am 389 00:25:08,057 --> 00:25:11,617 Speaker 3: with you, and I rejoice in the new strength gained 390 00:25:11,697 --> 00:25:16,777 Speaker 3: through spending time with you in your energizing name, Jesus Amen. 391 00:25:19,617 --> 00:25:22,297 Speaker 1: To learn more about Jason Gray, visit Jason Gray dot 392 00:25:22,337 --> 00:25:24,737 Speaker 1: com and be sure to check out his new children's 393 00:25:24,737 --> 00:25:28,217 Speaker 1: book Sparrows at your favorite retailer. If you'd like to 394 00:25:28,257 --> 00:25:30,736 Speaker 1: hear more stories about how music can change our hearts, 395 00:25:31,097 --> 00:25:38,617 Speaker 1: check out our interview with No Big Deal Next time 396 00:25:38,657 --> 00:25:41,777 Speaker 1: on the Jesus Going podcast, we'll hear from former Atlanta 397 00:25:41,817 --> 00:25:45,177 Speaker 1: Falcons NFL player Tim Green, who opens up about his 398 00:25:45,297 --> 00:25:48,697 Speaker 1: life changing diagnosis of ALS and how God met him 399 00:25:48,737 --> 00:25:49,417 Speaker 1: in his suffering. 400 00:25:51,137 --> 00:25:54,657 Speaker 4: I've always been driven in chasing the next accomplishment, but 401 00:25:54,737 --> 00:25:58,257 Speaker 4: there came a moment when I realized God wasn't interested 402 00:25:58,297 --> 00:26:01,817 Speaker 4: in my resume, he was interested in my heart. All 403 00:26:01,857 --> 00:26:06,977 Speaker 4: the roles I've played, athlete, author, commentator, at attorney were. 404 00:26:06,737 --> 00:26:08,537 Speaker 3: All just different ways to serve. 405 00:26:08,977 --> 00:26:14,817 Speaker 4: The turning point was understanding that my purpose wasn't about achievement, 406 00:26:15,177 --> 00:26:18,417 Speaker 4: it was about bringing glory to Him and loving people. 407 00:26:18,457 --> 00:26:18,737 Speaker 2: Well. 408 00:26:24,577 --> 00:26:27,097 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 409 00:26:27,177 --> 00:26:31,017 Speaker 1: podcast on the Live Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring 410 00:26:31,057 --> 00:26:33,617 Speaker 1: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 411 00:26:33,977 --> 00:26:37,657 Speaker 1: and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 412 00:26:38,457 --> 00:26:41,817 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 413 00:26:41,857 --> 00:26:45,097 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 414 00:26:45,217 --> 00:26:49,417 Speaker 1: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 415 00:26:49,737 --> 00:26:53,256 Speaker 1: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 416 00:26:53,257 --> 00:26:56,057 Speaker 1: Calling website at Jesuscalling dot com.