John Waller's unique brand of storytelling songwriting is best known to listeners through songs like "The Blessing," "While I'm Waiting" and "As for Me and My House," with the latter two being featured in the movies Fireproof and Courageous. His fourth studio project, Crazy Faith, follows in the same vein as Waller opens up his heart to share Scripture-based songs expressing the truth that no matter the circumstances, "life is a gift."

"Crazy Faith," the lead single which is featured in the film The War Room, strikes me in a deep and convicting way with the truth of how God calls all of us to "walk by faith, and not by sight." I love how John sincerely proclaims "Wherever You lead I will go, it's gonna take crazy faith. What if it costs me everything? I'm stepping out, I'm taking the leap of crazy faith." Like John, I'm clinging to The Bible's promise: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28, NIV)." I had the chance to speak with John about "Crazy Faith."
   
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song came out of our adoption story. We never dreamed we would have 9 children, ever. Four years ago, my mom passed away the day after our 5th child was born, and my wife said she felt like we should adopt a little girl. I had always wanted to adopt, so that got my attention. I felt like it was the Lord speaking. When my wife senses something from the Lord, I've learned to listen. 

We prayed about it and decided to adopt an older girl, 3 to 5 years old. After praying for 7 days, we got all these signs. God spoke her name into my heart: Anna. He confirmed that name many ways and many times. I dreamed about her. I was in an orphanage, and met her there. She was very shy. She looked 7, but she was 10 years old. I knew exactly what she looked like from my dream. I woke up and told my wife about it, and we weren't sure how we were going to find her. 

A few days later we were introduced to an agency that helped host and adopt orphans from Eastern Europe, and through that organization on that very night there was one girl left that needed hosting, and her name was Anna. When I got her picture, it was the same girl I saw in the dream God gave me. We also hosted her brother. We decided to adopt both of them, and then found out they had a sister as well. We also adopted her. 

It was a crazy time. It was not what we thought we were getting into, and as we were getting ready to travel to Ukraine to finalize the adoptions, we learned we were expecting another baby. We have a video of our story online, and it's my crazy faith story. I have a few of them in my life. The song came from us saying over and over again, "this is crazy, I don't know how it's going to work. This is crazy faith." It doesn't make sense and it doesn't work on paper, but we needed to trust God.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Genesis 15:6 (NLT): And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Romans 4:3 (NLT): For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."

James 2:23-24 (NLT): And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. So you see we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

What is the takeaway message?

God has definitely taught me to completely live by faith, and I can honestly say that my wife and I completely live by faith in everything we do. God always provides. He always comes through. 

One of the biggest things I've learned is that God's plan for each one our lives is not going to look like someone else's. I'm an individual and unique, and God has a unique plan for me. I've had to learn to not compare myself to someone else. It's hard not to do that, especially in this industry. You want to measure your success by what you see others doing. I've learned that I've had to let that go and know that I am successful, but I'm successful by God's standard and not by man's.

Each person has his or her own challenges, life issues and difficulties, and if we could pull back the curtain and see backstage into the real lives of each person, you would see a more accurate picture. You would see how people really get through their daily lives, the decisions they make, and even the why behind the choices they make. Ultimately, when everything is stripped away, it comes down to faith. Crazy faith isn't about saying "what kind of crazy thing can I do?" It's about walking with Him to do the impossible, into the unknown, where He's the only One who can get you across that mountain or that ocean that separates you from what He's called you to do. We're gathering stories of crazy faith on a website: http://www.crazyfaithcoffee.com. 

Lyrics:
O God did I hear You?
You really want me to
Walk up to that mountain
Tell it just to move
This is crazy, yeah

But her face in that picture
I said that's our daughter
But we can't swim this ocean
But You're telling us to move
This is crazy, yeah
Lord, this scares me, yeah

But it's gonna take crazy faith
So what if it costs me everything
I'm stepping out
I'm taking the leap of crazy faith

This house in all my dreams
Your asking me to leave
And take my wife and children
Where we never thought we'd go
This is crazy, yeah
Lord, I never thought we'd go
And it scares me, yeah

Here I go
Wherever You may lead I'll go
Lead me, Lord, I'll follow, follow You

Waiting on the Lord has been a theme in all of John's albums. His faithfulness and commitment to write and sing songs based on his personal experiences makes him one of the most relatable artists I've ever heard. If you like John's hit songs "The Blessing," "While I'm Waiting" and "As for Me and My House," then you're in for a real treat with Crazy Faith. The songs are a welcome companion in my quiet times of reflection and prayer. Waller's poignant song writing is coupled with his vulnerability as each song urges me pray more along with him. This album is sure to connect with all listeners who like sincere and catchy songs filled with truth and yearning for God.

Abraham was called a Friend of God. He chose to not choose when he allowed his nephew Lot to choose which way to go, and Lot chose by sight. Then Abraham chose to walk by faith and not by sight, and God credited that to him as righteousness. Righteousness comes from faith in the unseen, like Abraham displayed in the Bible. His "crazy faith" is why he is called a "Friend of God." That's the blessed hope we all share in God's Kingdom.

Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to more fully trust God with our lives. The key as a follower of Jesus is to walk by faith and to be guided in your daily walk by prayer and God's infallible Word, the Bible.

This song reminds me that we need to have that type of faith that Jesus describes in the Bible: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Being a Christian means that you walk by faith, not by sight. Remember the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." This song encourages me to have crazy faith. Step out and exclaim, "So what if it costs me everything, I'm stepping out, I'm taking the leap of crazy faith." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)