Christian music fans were first introduced to American Idol alum Lauren Daigle as she sang the gorgeous harmonies on Centricity label mate Jason Gray's hit single "Nothing is Wasted." Then we were treated to her original Christmas song "Light of The World," featured as a behind the song devotional. Like their other developing artists Unspoken and Carrollton, Centricity is introducing Lauren Daigle with her debut EP How Can it Be, available digitally September 16.

Lauren tried out for American Idol at the prompting of her dad. She ended up being a contender in 2010 and 2012, and the audition process proved to prompt growth in her life. Lauren's calling is to write songs that facilitates listeners encountering her Savior.

The EP has been preceded by Lauren's worshipful and powerful title track, which has resonated with me since I first heard the song. The song is an excellent depiction of the sacrifice and unmerited grace of our Advocate and Redeemer, and it serves as a gorgeous offering to our Savior Jesus. I had the chance to speak with Lauren about the song.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I didn't write this song, but I had the privilege of having one of those moments and where it felt like I was hearing my own thoughts because it hit me so hard. We were going over songs for my EP, and my producer Paul Mabury sat down with me and asked to share this song. He thought I might like it. I listened to this song that Paul wrote with Jason Ingram and Jeff Johnson, and as the song played tears started coming down my face and I was amazed by it.

Then, Paul asked if he could paint a picture for me. He told me the story of the woman caught in adultery in the Bible, and asked me to imagine Jesus bending down and writing in the sand, and all of a sudden the crowd threw this woman at His feet and said "look at what she's done, shouldn't we stone her? That's what the law requires," they said.

Not only was she humiliated, but they threw the law into the mix. That kind of judgment is so wretched. Jesus gets up and instead of saying "You're right, that's what she deserves," He steps into that moment of being on the Cross and shows her what His purpose was before He even fulfilled it.

When Paul told me that story, I thought about everything I had ever done to offend anyone. Things I've said and done that have hurt people and me. Beyond that, things I've done, knowing they were wrong, before the Lord. In the middle of that, Jesus offers us this relentless grace that is so overwhelming. I could identify with the weight of sin that the woman must have felt, knowing how much that breaks the Father's heart. But because of His goodness, this song made grace make sense to me in a new way.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

John 8:10-12 (NKJV): "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, ‘No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.' Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"

1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV): My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV): "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

What is the takeaway message?

After Paul shared the story of the woman caught in adultery and we listened to the song again, that's when the waterworks really started coming out of me. It is so beautiful. A variety of things have happened in my life during the process of recording this album. I've heard people tell me they can't approach the Lord because they are ashamed and feel too guilty. That feeling of guilt so often overtakes us. I've felt that before. This song speaks the sufficiency of His grace into that place.

In the timing of recording these songs, my grandfather passed away. He had cancer for a while. I was super close with my grandfather and lived with him and my grandmother when I was in college. When I moved to Nashville, he was healthy and doing well. Shortly after, he got sick, and in the time I was supposed to record the songs, he passed. I had to seek the Lord so much during that time. God showed me a new layer of His character. Because of that, I was able to trust in Him more.

There would be times when my grandfather was in immense pain, and I would call upon the Lord. Moment after moment, I begged the Lord to not miss the opportunity to say goodbye to my grandfather, and four days before he passed I went home to be with him. God's faithfulness was shown to us in that whole process. The songs on the album are about trusting God, waiting on Him, His character and about how He's faithful and He's Sovereign.

Lyrics:
I am guilty
Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become
These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be

I've been hiding
Afraid I've let You down, inside I doubt
That You could love me
But in Your eyes there's only grace now

You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be

Though I fall, You can make me new
From this death I will rise with You
Oh the grace reaching out for me
How can it be
How can it be

You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be

Lauren's song has quickly become one of my personal worship anthems, and I hear in her stellar vocals a sincere yearning for Jesus and thankfulness in her heart for God's mercy and grace. "How Can it Be" is one of the best worship songs I've ever heard. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth.

Lauren's tender 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 "You gave Your life to give me mine / You say that I am free, how can it be?"

The message behind this song is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though we are all guilty and deserve judgment, like the woman caught in adultery we need to know this truth: "I've been hiding, afraid I've let You down, inside I doubt, That You could love me, But in Your eyes there's only grace now." If you've been holding on to guilt and shame, the truth this song portrays is the heart of our Advocate, Jesus who stands before God.

Remember 1 John 2:2 (NKJV): "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world." This song is truly the Gospel message of grace. How can you not be moved when you think about how Jesus took our place on the Cross? Allow that truth to sink in, and then sing along with Lauren this emotive description of what Jesus does for us as His children: "You plead my cause, You right my wrongs, You break my chains, You overcome." Amen to that!

Watch Lauren sing the song here.