When I first heard "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts, I was immediately hooked by the inspirational and personal message. Her last release Time for the Show was one of my Top 5 Albums of 2013. Kerrie's albums are great for fans of Kelly Clarkson and Natalie Grant. Her songs are totally inspiring and great reminders to have faith and to allow God to use you, no matter what. Kerrie pours her heart out in every single song and demonstrates how she is living out Matthew 11:29 (MSG): "Learn the unforced rhythms of grace."
 
These songs will have you hanging on every word that Kerrie tenderly and powerfully sings. Her next single is the title track from her debut independent EP, My Heart's Lifted. I had the chance to speak with Kerrie about the song.
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Whenever I'm writing songs for a project, whether a full-length album with ten songs or an EP with five songs, I want the album to reflect the high and low moments of life, with hope always flowing out of those low moments. I wanted this song to be a happy moment. It is so important in the Christian life to acknowledge that we have hard times and to not shy away from that. But I also want to have those big joyful moments where when you experience grace, it is insanely joyful and makes you want to dance.
 
There are so many worldly party songs about having fun, and those messages are often temporal even though they are fun to dance to. I wanted to have something with more weight, a song about the eternal joy we have and that nothing's going to make us happier or make us more lifted up than this. That's what I was trying to capture with the song. The Bible verse "His burden is light" is in the song. If we take on Jesus's yoke, His burden is light. That's the main verse that this song is based on.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message): "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
 
Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message): "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Matthew 6:31-34 (VOICE): So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don't realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.
 
What is the takeaway message?
 
I was home one Sunday and my dad was preaching on that Matthew 5 passage, and he was talking about the freedom we have in Christ. He shared the version from The Message translation, which says "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." I thought that was the coolest thing. My dad was in the Air Force, and he was drawing these parallels to learning how to march in rhythm with people and how much our burdens are lifted when we are marching with the "unforced rhythm of grace" of Jesus. When you are there and find that freedom, then your heart is lifted and you have that joy that this song is about.
 
There's also a nod to my favorite hymn, "Blessed Assurance" in the chorus, where I sing, "All day long, this is my song." For those who grew up in the church, I wanted to reference, "this is my story, this is my song."
 
Lyrics:
Weightless, I can still remember the way
I felt that day When Your grace
Glowing like a ember, burned my past away

Now I'm soaring above the clouds
I can finally see the sun
And this world can't bring me down
Because of all You've done

You got my heart
Got my heart, heart lifted
Oh my soul,
Oh my soul, keep singing
All day long, this is my song
My Heart's Lifted

I'm floating, leaving all my worries because
Your burden is light
Knowing even when it's blurry
Your voice will be my guide

Now I'm soaring above the clouds
I can finally see the sun
And this world can't bring me down
Because of all You've done

You lift me up high with Your love
I want to shine just like the Son
 
I'm captivated by how Kerrie's songs move me emotionally and connect me spiritually to the truth behind the songs. Her vocals will soothe your soul, and the lyrics will direct your attention to the One who defeated death to heal your heart. There are transparent and vulnerable lyrics found throughout this very compelling album. Musically and lyrically, I am captivated by the hook-filled and honest nature of these songs.
 
From the moment I first heard the song "My Heart's Lifted," I was impressed by Kerrie's emotive and strong vocals. I hear an even deeper yearning and joy for God in the song and throughout this incredible five track album. I've written about Matthew 5 for my behind the song devotional ministry many times, and this is easily the most joyful song I've had the privilege to connect to those powerful Words of Jesus.
 
We all need to "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." That is Jesus's heart for us. He does not want us to worry. He tells us "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." We all deal with some level of fear, worry and anxiety. God knows that about us, and after I read somewhere that He tells us to not have fear or worry in His Word 365 times, enough for one time each day, I have been attentive to that concept in my daily Bible study.
 
I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I am strengthened with the Truth that God wants us to know that fear, worry and being anxious is not His plan for our lives. By reading the Bible every day, God wants us to have a daily reminder not to be afraid. Joyfully sing with Kerrie: "I'm floating, leaving all my worries because Your burden is light, knowing even when it's blurry Your voice will be my guide."

The album's theme is the phrase "This world can't bring me down because of all You've done." There is a beautiful nod to Kerrie's favorite hymn, "Blessed Assurance," in the lyrics "this is my song, my heart's lifted." I get tingles when Kerrie belts out "I want to shine just like Your Son!" Matthew 5:14 tells us: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." Amen to that!
 
(Watch Kerrie sing the song here.)