Following up her string of recent hit songs "Let Go," "Don't Have Love" and "Through My Father's Eyes" from her album Focus, "God Is" (available June 10th) is the highly-anticipated new single from acclaimed Artist Garden Entertainment singer/songwriter Holly Starr.

Her previous songs have focused on the sovereignty of God, finding our true identity in the Person of Jesus Christ, and knowing that we are all made in God's image and how we are reflecting His image as followers of Jesus by actively loving one another as He has loved us. I had the privilege to sing along with Holly's songs in person a couple of times last year. What I noticed is that although she writes and sings great pop songs that connect with listeners of all ages, she has a real heart for leading worship.

My family has been blessed by Holly's music ministry and her great example of how to be a modest and godly woman who expresses her love for Jesus and how He has rescued and redeemed her from the lies and destructive messages of the world. "God Is" picks up with Holly's desire to provide words for the Church to sing about our Lord, to edify and build up believers with her anointed voice and transparent faith.

In that way, her newest song "God Is" reflects her heartbeat to sing about the attributes of God and make an offering of praise to Him. I had the chance to speak with Holly about this great new worship song.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This is the first song I've recorded that I didn't write, which was an interesting process in itself. Chris Stevens and Phillip LaRue wrote the song and suggested that I record it. When I first heard it, I thought that if there was a song I could write that was my mission statement, this song would be it.

I am so passionate about wanting to direct people's attention to God. This song really does that. Another thing I love to do is meet people in the middle of their chaos and remind them that that point is when we need to focus on God the most. In our good days, we need to do that as well because we tend to forget. In our weakness and being fearful about things, our natural tendency is to not trust God, to not rejoice or be thankful. In my walk with God, when I'm in those places, a light bulb goes on and reminds me that I'm supposed to be thankful. I can either choose to reject that or I can embrace it. The times I've embraced those situations have given me a deeper peace than I could ever have had otherwise.

I want to encourage and suggest that we be a people that chooses to embrace those situations. We need to have thankfulness and rejoicing in suffering like it says in Romans 5. We need to take the path of being people of character instead of letting fear run our lives. When we center our attention on God, it lets our fears and chaotic situations that bound us fall away because we have a stronghold and a peace in Him and His character. This song really says that for me.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Romans 5:3-5 (MSG): There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Colossians 1:24 (The Voice): Now I rejoice in what I've suffered on your behalf, but even more suffering is ahead for me as I take on and complete what remains of the Anointed's suffering for the sake of His body, the church.

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV): The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV): The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (MSG): God's name is a place of protection—good people can run there and be safe.

What is the takeaway message?

God is with you and He does care. He is stronger than any pain you are dealing with or facing. I want to encourage people who are in that place that God is with them. It brings me great joy knowing that whoever hears this song will get a sure taste of Who my God truly is. The song does this in a way so simply and clearly that you can't finish the song without knowing a handful of His characteristics— our firm foundation.

It is a deep desire of mine to simply share with others the character of God, to be a voice of encouragement to the Church, and a voice to share about who God is with those who might not know Him. He is our promise, our refuge, our strength.

Lyrics:
When all you see is here and now
When everything is crumbling, falling to the ground

This is just a moment, this is not forever
I know it seems impossible when all your hope is gone

But God is, God is,
Greater than the fear your facing
Greater than the storm that's raging
God is, God is,
With you when you cry, so cry out His name

‘Cause God is greater than the pain

He knows the trials His children face
He knows the tears that fall that we all have to taste

But don't you dare let go now, don't let the candle blow out

His love is strong, so just hold on
‘Cause He is with you through it all

He is mighty, more than able
To rescue and restore the ones He loves
He's a Refuge and a Savior, a Savior

This song very much sounds like a song that Holly would write, which is a credit to what she's already written. She expresses with transparency her walk with the Lord and how she relies on God in the midst of self-doubt, anxiety and struggling with issues like body image. The beauty of the Kingdom of God is that we can confess to one another that we all have these feelings and how we can all read the same Scripture for comfort.

I personally take a lot of solace in knowing the Truth of Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV): "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." I love that every translation of those words of wisdom from Proverbs tells believers to "run" to the name of the Lord. In the midst of any pain you are dealing with, run to Jesus.

This song is a faith statement. Righteousness was accredited to Abraham for his faith. We need to have the faith that the Bible describes in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

His Name is a strong tower. We can call out for Jesus and He will keep us safe. This is a truth for believers to cling to. We're not supposed to just hope it is true, or turn to the Lord as only our last resort, but daily be washed by the Truth of the Word of God. If we learn to build our lives on Scripture, we would all have a Rock as our foundation as we navigate our lives. We can know for a fact that the words of this song are true: "God is greater than the pain." Amen to that!