One of my favorite blessings in writing these behind the song devotionals for NewReleaseToday has been to learn the oftentimes emotional stories that led to songs recorded in Christian music. From Laura Story's "Blessings" to Cindy Morgan's "How Could I Ask for More," overcoming difficulty through God's sovereignty and grace is captured beautifully in songs and stories that provide all of us hope in uncertain times. 

In that same vein is the new collection of songs on the album Wonder by Jean Watson. The album includes recordings of popular songs written by Amanda Cook, Michael W. Smith, Kristene DiMarco and Matt Redman as well as the original and poignant song "Everything Can Change," based on Jean's personal experience involving her son. I had the chance to speak with Jean about "Everything Can Change."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song was truly inspired by God. One day I received a letter in the mail from a worship leader friend in Pennsylvania, and it just had a few words scribbled on a piece of paper that said "If I call upon Your name, everything can change." He said he thought it was supposed to be a part of a song, but he couldn't finish it. 

I was going through a difficult time in my life, as a single mom with four kids. My oldest son had gotten addicted to drugs when he was only 12, and we had a traumatic few years trying to deal with drug addiction, financial hardship, loneliness, hopelessness and all kinds of struggle. Then these words arrived in the mail. 

I thought about how much I really needed that. I know that it is true. It says in Scripture that Jesus said "with God, all things are possible." I needed it to be personally true for me in that moment. That evening I took the words, and I had my keyboard out, and the rest of the words of this song about who Jesus is in a tangible way spilled out. The way Jesus showed us what loves looks like was by applying it in the places of the world where there was need. He turned water into wine, gave sight to the blind. He healed my heart, and I couldn't stop singing the song. It became my personal prayer in my life that God would turn my darkness to light.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Luke 1:37 (NKJV): "For with God nothing will be impossible."

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV): "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Psalm 60:12 (Voice): "Only through God can we be successful. It is God alone who will defeat our enemies and bring us victory!"

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

James 4:14 (NJKV): "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

James 1:2-4 (NIV): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

What is the takeaway message?

The next chapter in the story is that after a long season of prayer and fasting, and others joining me, my son was cured of his drug addiction. February 11, 2005 he went to bed high on cocaine. He was 16 years old. He woke me up on February 12th and he was absolutely sober. He told me something happened to him in the middle of the night. He saw Jesus. My first thought was, how much cocaine did you take? He said he actually had an encounter with God, and when he woke up his addiction was broken, and he threw his cigarettes away and his life was changed. 

That very week he went to our local church, asked for Bibles, and went looking for drug addicts and evangelized about the power of God and what God had done in his life. That miracle changed his life, and our whole families' lives. We saw God's love at work in such a tangible way in our home. Anyone who saw my son could not ascribe it to anything other than God. There was no earthly explanation for it. He didn't have counseling or rehab. He was instantly delivered. 

This song became a verbalization and putting a melody to how God can do the impossible. Over the years, I've sung the song hundreds and hundreds of times in prisons and churches and homeless shelters. Everywhere I go, I always invite people to close their eyes and imagine what it would look like for God to come into their lives the way He came into my life. The song has borne fruit not only in my life, but for so many people who have heard it. 

I'm becoming increasingly aware that God through His Holy Spirit has inhabited my body through my faith in Jesus. That's a powerful concept that we don't really grasp sometimes. We are as Christians walking around as the embodiment of Christ. We are His vessels that get to carry around His power and His glory, and it is real. I see things happen around me all the time that can only be ascribed to the presence of God in and around me. Galatians 2:20 reminds to me live my life to show the world what God looks like.

Lyrics:
If I call upon Your name     
If I call upon Jesus
If I call upon Your name
Everything can change            
Everything can change

Cause You turn darkness to light, water to wine
Blindness to sight       
Come change this heart of mine
Darkness to light, water to wine
Blindness to sight       
Come heal this heart of mine

When I call upon your name       
When I call upon Jesus
When I call upon Your name         
Everything can change
Everything can change

Lord I call upon Your name       
Lord I call upon Jesus
Lord I call upon Your name
Everything can change      
Everything can change

If I call upon Your name
If I call upon Jesus...

Like Laura Story's award winning song "Blessings," sometimes it's hard to comprehend, but maybe God really is guiding us in our trials and heartaches. Maybe they're working towards something bigger. Maybe God is blessing us through the hard parts in our lives. The Christian life is about making a decision to live for Christ and not for ourselves.  

It is convicting and comforting to know that God doesn't want us to be anxious about anything or have fear or worry. The key to the freedom from those things is to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness," which this song beautifully captures. Matthew 6:34 reminds us, "So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today." 

Our hearts are like a home where God lives when we are believers. God cleans us and lives in us forever. This song paints a great picture of how we are made pure and beautiful in Christ. Whether you are having trouble with sadness or sleeplessness, reflect on the promises of Scripture that God brings peace and gladness in Him. Most of all, remember that your true identity is in Christ.

We know our lives here on earth are only temporary and our real home is heaven. So it's possible that the pain has a purpose. Our blessing as her listeners is to join in and share in Jean's sincere prayer to God. This song represents the truth of the Christian walk. As Jean tenderly sings in this offering of praise--"Cause You turn darkness to light, water to wine, blindness to sight, come change this heart of mine."

Sometimes, we need the suffering and heartaches so God can shape us into who we need to be. Someday we'll see the purpose. Until then, remember God promises us His very best. This song reminds you to count your blessings, call out to Him in prayer and know with certainty that with God all things are possible. Jesus doesn't ask us to cover our weaknesses. It's through our weakness that His power is made perfect and He makes us strong in Him. That's cause to count our blessings, singing "Lord, I call upon Your name, Lord I call upon Jesus, everything can change." Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.