At first glance, Kerrie Roberts is the unassuming girl with a huge voice. But once her voice captures you, it is clear there’s much more going on here. Dynamic yet intimate, uniquely emotive and soulful, her self-titled debut reveals the heart of an empathetic artist. These are the songs of a distinctly relational and prolific songwriter.

“My father is a pastor, so my whole family has been shaped by the church,” says Kerrie. “From a young age, my parents always taught me to reach out to the broken and to those who need hope.”

With her first performance at the age of 5, Kerrie grew up singing in church, playing piano and leading worship. She wrote her first songs in high school. The 10 songs on her debut reflect the redemptive seeds planted during those years and into her young adulthood.

Thematically, the album explores a thoughtful side of faith, hope and love—the acknowledgment that an authentic life of faith isn’t void of suffering, the purpose amidst pain, the promise that a breakthrough is coming, and the motivating power of God’s love.

Says Kerrie, “I want every song to leave people with a sense of purpose—a call to action, a realization of a truth, a promotion of hope and healing.”

I got the opportunity to speak with Kerrie about her song “No Matter What” and this is what she shared with me.

Please tell me about the background in writing the song “No Matter What.”

This song is based on an older idea and it came from a sermon that my father preached. I’m a pastor’s daughter. He spoke on Daniel Chapter 3, and how Daniel’s friends say right before they are thrown in the fiery furnace that “we know that our God has the power to save us, but if not we’re going to serve Him anyway.” That’s my paraphrase. That really struck me that God isn’t saying He won’t bring trouble into our life. The personal application for me is in the song “Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands.” God is saying when we face that fiery furnace we need to rely on Him.

Do you have any Bible verses you used in writing the song?

Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What do consider to be the take-away message for listeners?

For me, growing up at my home church in Florida, I see so many faithful people who have experienced loss and sickness. They cry out God, "I’m your child, why can’t I be healed or spared? Why did You allow this to happen to me?"

We live on this natural earth, and God doesn’t promise a blanket of protection from problems. What He does promise are specific spiritual promises. God is present with us in that time of loss. That’s where our focus should be. The song is for people in the church and how to deal with pain and loss. People going through trials or suffering seem to be connecting to the song. The song reminds people to trust God “no matter what.” Total surrender to God is the message of the song. I have the spiritual promise of saving me eternally, not the earthly promise of saving me from everything that comes my way. God sees way beyond what we can see.

Here are the lyrics:

I’m running back to Your promises one more time, Lord that’s all I can hold on to, I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises You.

Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands, and even though I keep asking why, I keep asking why.

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust You, no matter what, no matter what.

When I’m stuck and there’s nothing else by myself, I’m just sitting in silence, there’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won't even try it.

I know You have Your reasons for everything, so I will keep believing, whatever I might be feeling, God you are my hope, and you will be my strength,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust You, no matter what, no matter what.

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s ok if You don’t, I’m not here for those things, the touch of Your love is enough on its own, no matter what I still love You and I’m gona need You

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, I’ll trust You, no matter what, no matter what.

God tells us in the Bible that we are all sinners and we’ve all fallen short. We need to serve God because of who He is, not what He does for us. God doesn’t promise to spare us from pain, but we need to trust Him…no matter what. You have to trust Him and wait on Him and wait for Him to orchestrate the plans for your life. That story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel is totally inspiring and is a great reminder to have that type of faith and to allow God to use you…no matter what.