With the release of her fourth studio album, Unraveling, North Carolina native Shelly Moore offers an achingly hopeful collection of songs that display a depth of lyric writing and musical creativity. The soothing melodies, eclectic instrumentation, and background vocals makes Unraveling engaging and enjoyable with each listen. 

 

Produced by Jason Hoard, Unraveling is the sonic representation of Moore's diverse musical palette. From the mystery and wonder invoking "Anchor," to the hopeful, pop sound of "Unraveling," to the worship response of a heart beholding her Savior in "Hymn 27" and "Turn Your Eyes", this new project inspires hope and wonder. I had the great opportunity to interview Shelly about her great new song, "Unraveling."
 

Please share the background message of the song "Unraveling."
 
“Unraveling” started in a funny way. I went to a retreat hosted by Christa Wells, Nicole Witt and Ann Voskamp, and they asked us to bring an artistic piece with us. I’m pretty much a gypsy, and do a lot of traveling, and graphic design and practically live out of my car {unintentionally, of course}. Long story short, we needed to decorate the conference room in a hotel with fluorescent lighting and no ambiance whatsoever. I had some rugs and artistic pieces in my car vinyl wraps and went and got them and decorated the room for this women’s conference. In the process, my car and hotel room keys got stashed and lost somewhere. At the end of the night, everyone went to bed and I had no keys. I didn’t want to wake anyone because we had another long day of ministry the next day so I ended up roaming the halls and conference room searching for the keys. There was a piano in the conference room, and after a few hours of fruitless searching, I sat at the piano feeling foolish for losing my keys, played three notes, and started singing about ..."losing my keys, silly me, I’m unraveling". It seemed silly at the time, but the Lord in His grace and sovereignty over all things that seem silly and misguided, He gave me an image of a little girl holding a ball of yarn. This little girl presented a ball of yarn to her Father, and it was knotted and full of messy bows she had tied. This was her masterpiece and gift to him. He took it from her and started to unknot it and make this string beautiful and useful. He'd weave it into something she’d love. Heartbreaking for a little girl who doesn't always understand, but beautiful as time will reveal. That beautiful picture led to this song.

 

Please tell me about the Bible verses you used in writing the song. 
 

James 1:16-18: "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created."

 

Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

 

How can listeners apply that message when they listen to the song? 

When we consider ourselves a mess and we bring our messy selves to our Father in Heaven, He is able to unravel us and create something beautiful --- a true masterpiece. In the past few years, I have been able to spend sweet time in prayer with God and He constantly reminds me that I can trust Him in these moments while He's unraveling my plans, my dreams, and my thoughts on His character. He reminds me that I can not build my hopes and dreams in temporal pursuits, even when they are best-laid-plans for ministry. Sometimes when the Lord takes our plans apart, that’s hard to endure. We need to let our Creator work with what we bring Him. In the first verse, I sing about presenting the Lord my knotted ball of yarn, trying to create what’s best for me, and letting Him unravel me. In the second verse, I sing about how broken hearts are the disease of our broken world, and to allow our Healer to do His work in our unraveling. It's in those moments when everything seems to be falling apart that you feel worthless and insecure, unloved, and overwhelmed. Yet it's in those very same moments, God takes you and says you aren’t worthless, that He’s working even now in this darkness and confusion, taking what you bring and giving it purpose and beauty. In our weakness, God shines His strength. How that works together is mysterious and beautiful. I’m grateful that’s the God we serve. That’s what this song is about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asbury's Bible commentary: "It must be reaffirmed that God's movements toward humankind can be only good and right. This was evident at Creation when God overpowered the darkness of the abyss with light through his creative word. It is evident also in the first fruits among His creation, through the new birth, that proceeds from the Word of the Gospel. Although the celestial lights fluctuate in brightness, the Creator-Father is unwavering in His benevolence. He is unrelenting in His determination to achieve His purpose in creation. So His design, recently revealed, involved Him in birthing a new creation."

 

One of the many standout experiences of this stellar album is hanging on every note of "Unraveling," where Shelly brilliantly sings "You have taken me apart at the seams, You have brought me to where I am on my last string, unraveling" which leads to the encouraging chorus: "I've heard You say wait for a better day, there is purpose even in the midst of this, and just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, I'll get you through the night." God promises us in His Word that His mercies are new every morning. Whatever struggle or depression you are facing you can know that God is with you, always.

 

I can perfectly relate to every word Shelly wrote and gorgeously sings in this song. I've been married for 18 years and we have three beautiful daughters and a safe and lovely home. The tendency as a believer is to focus on the blessings we've received from God and this song is a gut check of my faithfulness. If all of those things were removed from me, would I still understand that I'm blessed and cling to God for my security and hope? In America, there is a tendency to look to God for prosperity and think if they are faithful, they'll receive gifts. That's true, but they may not look like the American dream. This song is a prayer of thankfulness to God for what He's given us and for what He's taken away from us.

 

This is a wonderful song of encouragement and prayer to ask God to break your pride, live redemption's story, and move closer to who we're meant to be in Christ. Allow God and His Holy Spirit to change you to be more like Jesus, and move closer to His glory. Even if that looks like "unraveling." God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation. Amen.

 

(Here's a promo video about the album.)