New Word Records' band Veridia based their name on this description: "an expression of truth and to strive for raw honesty in every aspect of daily life." The band is made up of lead singer Deena Jakoub, Brandon Brown, Kyle Levy and Trevor Hinesley.
 
In their single "Furious Love" from Inseparable, I hear in Deena's stellar vocals a sincere yearning for Jesus and thankfulness in her heart for God's mercy and grace. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song which is filled with biblical truth.
 
Deena's tender and powerful vocals take you on an emotional journey that gives me goose bumps every time I hear this song. I am especially comforted by the truth of the lyrics: "and so You dreamed of me, a love like that is all I want. I don't ever have to be what I am not." I had the chance to speak with Deena and Brandon at WinterJam about the song.
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Deena: The writing process was kind of unique. When we started writing the song, it was originally going to be a love song. It wasn't originally necessarily directed towards God. For me, I went through a lot of messed up relationships throughout my adolescence, and I did a lot of soul searching. I struggled with and I still struggle with self-image. I'm always wondering if I look right, and I'm really meticulous about everything, and I compared myself a lot to others. How the male figure saw me especially affected my self-image. Then, I met someone who saw me for who I am and looked past all of that, and originally the song was supposed to be for him.
 
Then, it had this new meaning applied, and the song had so much more depth to it when I realized that there isn't a single human being on the entire earth who could love me with the capacity that God loves me. Nothing else can truly be completely fulfilling. The song has that dual meaning, and that only God can love me with that furious passion described in the song.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV): "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NKJV): "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

What is the takeaway message?

Deena: The phrase "I don't need the world's approval" is in the song and is printed on our Mens Designer T-shirts because that's the main message of the song. The band name Veridia means truth and was derived from the Latin word Veritas. It was something that we wanted as a daily reminder of what we strive to do.
 
With the music that we sing and the messages that we give, we want to be honest and real. Our messages and topics vary, and a lot of people will connect to what we are singing, because these are relational songs. "We Are The Brave" was one of the first songs we wrote as a band, and going into something completely new, uncharted territory, was very scary. Brandon and I have been writing together for 10 years. We realized that what we are doing is way beyond us. We are connecting to every single fan that walks through the door, and our songs are about unifying all of us. We wear war paint on stage and invite our fans to join in with us.
 
Brandon: We hear a lot from female fans in particular that identify with the song that the words of this song and the message encourages them. As a guy, I need that message as well. It's an important reminder, when I was younger and now that a lot of people are judging you constantly. If you spend every day worrying about what other people think or pleasing them or doing things a certain way instead of following God's calling in your life and being the unique person that He's called you to be, then you end up confusing yourself and wasting a lot of time.
 
I think the song is especially powerful for girls because they may deal with this issue in a different way than guys, but it is equally applicable to us as men to not get caught up in worldly things and worry about what people think of us. We're only here to please Him, and that's what's most important.
 
Lyrics:
He said that I would never be
A silhouette that he would want
I shifted shape and recreated me
The girl I was, I soon forgot
A love like that won't last long
So suddenly it all goes wrong
When beauty starts to fade

But You say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only You madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

With all You have and all You are
Your universe was incomplete
In a sea of silver stars
Still the sky was dark
And so You dreamed of me
A love like that is all I want
I don't ever have to be what I am not
God, I love the way

You say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only You madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

Your passion is a fire
An all consuming fire
I can't get enough
Furious love

You say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only You madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

Your passion is a fire
An all consuming fire
I can't get enough
Furious love


Veridia has delivered the ideal song to minister to anyone struggling with identity issues. I've been married for 20 years and have three young daughters, and this entire album really ministers to me and my family. My daughters are more precious than anything in the world to me and to their Heavenly Father, and this song is a great anthem to celebrate the biblical Truth from Psalm 139 that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." As a Christian father, I want my daughters to all know that they are beautiful just the way they are, and they don't need the world's approval.
 
We often feel ashamed and unworthy of God's perfect and furious love, but that's the point. We aren't worthy and God still wants all of us and loves us deeply. This entire album is about giving and accepting love. Many of us feel that we're not worthy of being near God, that He's using a checklist to determine our worthiness. That's not the Gospel.
 
The Good News of the Gospel which this song perfectly portrays is that God accepts us no matter what we've done. A quote that connects to this song is "Comparison is the thief of joy," as stated by President Theodore Roosevelt. As the song says, "You say I am beautiful, I don't need the world's approval. Only You madly pursue me and jealously tell me I am worthy of furious love." Amen to that!
 
(Watch the music video here.)