Powerful Christian music mainstay Sanctus Real is releasing their new album entitled The Dream on October 14. The album was primarily recorded in the place where the band has its roots (Toledo, OH), utilizing frontman Matt Hammitt's home studio. This gives the project a special feeling grounded in the band's identity, focused on living out faith honestly both on and off the stage.

Sanctus Real's past highlights include songs like "I'm Not Alright," "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)," "Forgiven," "Lead Me" and "Pray." Lead single from The Dream, "Lay it Down," joins that lineup of compelling, heart-felt songs. I had the opportunity to interview guitarist Chris Rohman about their latest single "Lay it Down."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song was originally just a musical idea that I had. A lot of the songs on this album that I had the biggest part of came from me going down to the basement late at night after the kids were in bed and trying to write music that moved me, recording it, sending it to Matt and seeing if he wanted to finish writing a song. For me, I don't start with lyrics but with music, being the guitar player. I love programming parts, the drums, guitar and everything, and how music moves me. That's right where I like to be.

This song was one of the first demos I wrote that instantly Matt felt he had a vision for. I had the verse and chorus musically, and I went over to Matt's and we worked on the lyrics and melody together. It came pretty easily. He had already written the first two lines of the song, and we finished it.

At the time we had a handful of demos, and we were about two months away from recording the album. It came together in such a way that it helped steer the rest of the record from there on out. Thematically, it is a great starting point for us, which is why it is the first single. This is our seventh album, and we always say we feel like we are starting over when we make an album. This time, it felt like we could explore as much as we wanted to make a different album than we've ever made, and we recorded the album in our home town, working for the first time with producer Pete Kipley. He was crazy enough to come to Toledo and record the album with us in Matt's garage.

For us, the only way to get through life has been learning more and more how important it is to have that real connection and that need for a personal relationship with God. We've learned how much we need to rest on that. The older I get, the more I realize that I can't accomplish anything in my own strength. For me it is about a daily walk with God. Have the faith to believe that God has called you to be in each moment.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 46:1 (VOICE): God is our shelter and our strength. When troubles seem near, God is nearer, and He's ready to help. So why run and hide?

John 10:18 (NIV): "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:18-19 (NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us."

What is the takeaway message?

This was one of those songs that Pete heard and agreed to work with us to make the album, and the bridge came after he got involved. It is symbolic for us with where we are at in our lives. We are all in our early thirties and have families and are looking at something we've known for half our lives, being a band together. We want to remain true to our calling. Ever since we were sixteen and started this band, we have always wanted to write music about our faith that hopefully catches people's attention. It even goes back to our band name. We have always tried to write songs that draw people to the lyrics and our heart behind the songs.

With this song, a verse that has always spoken to us is Philippians 4:6-7, to not be anxious about anything. For us, that's the season we are in. It's easy to be anxious and get caught up in what's going on in the music business, but when we first started it was about writing songs from our hearts. We don't want to try to conform to expectations or what everybody else is doing, and this song helped us focus on getting back to that place of surrendering the worries we have as musicians, fathers and husbands, and not worrying about what comes next. We have to remain focused on why we started as a band in the first place. Basically, to have a childlike innocence.

Lyrics:
I know you have your problems
‘Cause everybody's got ‘em
If you get lost in your sorrows
Then you could hit rock bottom
But if you smile in face of trivial things
And you learn to pray when you wanna complain
Stand up straight when the Earth is shaking 
And just breathing when you feel afraid
Oh, don't you know 

Those problems you're worried about
They can't keep you from living now
When you shake ‘em off and lay ‘em down, down, down
At the cross where your freedom's found 
Oh You can stand up no matter what
March on when times are tough
Be strong and don't give up 
All you need now
Is to shake ‘em off and lay ‘em down
At the cross where your freedom's found 

We all have our seasons
When we get caught up in our feelings
And I know there's a time for laughter and a time for pain
A time for doubt and a time for faith 
But when you believe you can find the strength 
So get back up on your feet 

Lay it down, lay it down
Why you holding on so tight 
Oh, the freedom you will find
When you let go God will take over the fight 
Oh, just surrender 
And feel what it's like to be free again


I have long admired Sanctus Real's music ministry, from 2002's Say It Loud through The Dream. Over the last 12 years, I have heard the band mature spiritually as fellow believers in Christ, as husbands and fathers, and they always connect with me on all of those levels. This next chapter of Sanctus Real and this song "Lay it Down" really lays out some key takeaway messages that all believers need to hear.

We all deal with some level of fear, worry and anxiety. God knows that about us, and after I read somewhere that He tells us to not have fear or worry in His Word 365 times, enough for one time each day, I have been attentive to that concept in my daily Bible study. I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I am strengthened with the Truth that God wants us to know that fear, worry and being anxious is not His plan for our lives. By reading the Bible every day, God wants us to have a daily reminder not to be afraid and to "lay it down, lay it down."

Believing the words of this song is a great way to work on the disciplines of self-examination and prayer. You can know Jesus personally. Reach out to Him and know with certainty: "perfect love casts out fear." This album is all about finding our true identity in Christ. He is the answer. A great comfort of this song is to allow the Truth of these words to sink in: "Those problems you're worried about, They can't keep you from living now, When you shake ‘em off and lay ‘em down, down, down, At the Cross where your freedom's found. When you let go God will take over the fight. Oh, just surrender. And feel what it's like to be free again." Amen to that!

(Watch the lyric video here.)