In 1980 Jonathan Cain joined the rock band Journey, rounding out the songwriting genius behind the defining album Escape. Escape features the mega-hit song "Don't Stop Believin," co-written by Cain. His signature piano, synth playing and songwriting contributions with Journey, The Babys and Bad English have earned him countless Billboard hits and multiple gold, platinum and Diamond-selling records. 

Before I was saved, Cain's love songs "Faithfully," "Open Arms" and "When I See You Smile" were the songs of my heart. Without a personal relationship with Jesus, they were representative of my search for love, and "Faithfully" is one of the anthems for my marriage. Like Jonathan, I had a conversion experience, and it was the cross-over band Jars of Clay that allowed me to hear the Gospel in music for the first time. Now, Cain has crossed over and released his own faith-based album, What God Wants to Hear, expressing his personal love for God. I had the chance to speak with Jonathan about "Deeper than Deep."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

For me, I wanted to maintain the transparency of who I've always been. For Journey fans, when they put on the album, I hope it takes them back to that genre. The piano-based music has always been my signature sound. Instead of singing about a girl and the love gone wrong, I wanted to sing about how amazing God's love is. This is a love album to the Lord from me, and thankfulness for all the blessings He's given me over the years. We cannot fathom how great His love is, and how infinite and powerful and mighty. 

I started out with a true love for Jesus when I was very young. My father was a very devout spiritual man who loved to pray and he was my mentor, really. He brought me into the Catholic Church. Then we had this terrible fire that hit our parish, and 100 children died. I just went distant with the Lord. When you're only eight years old, you don't really understand the enemy very well. After that, my father shipped me off to music lessons, and he was so certain that his son was going to be a star. I've had many setbacks, and the enemy is good at rocking our faith sometimes. It's been a long road back to my God. 

Many years later, after two failed marriages and three kids, I started to seek faith in Jesus again. It's hard going to a new church and attempting to fit in. But God wanted me to first meet Paula White. I didn't know what she did and just thought she was a tremendous woman. We dated, and it's funny because I never saw her preach for at least six months. Then I finally came to Orlando and her congregation welcomed me with open arms, and we got married. God's plan was for me to fall in love with her, and then He would take over. 

I was still out singing Journey songs that I wrote 35 years ago. Her message to me was that I wasn't acknowledging God's love for me. I had repentance in my life and realized that God is full-time, not just on Sundays. Paula encouraged me to record songs based on Scripture. That's where this song came from. After studying modern Christian music, it was unclear if some of the songs were love songs or being sung to God, which led to me writing What God Wants to Hear. I went in the Bible, and growing up Catholic I didn't know the Bible that well. I found these rich images and great tapestries to write these songs from. God's love is so infinite, it is deeper than deep.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

1 John 4:8 (NKJV): "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

1 John 4:16 (NKJV): "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."

1 John 4:19 (VOICE): "We love because He has first loved us."

Psalm 42:7-8 (NKJV): "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me--A prayer to the God of my life."

What is the takeaway message?

People always would compare me to Michael W. Smith over the years, and when I put out my solo albums, they said I sounded like him. So I looked him up and said, "Wait a minute, he sounds like me!" The piano sounded like Journey, and there are a lot of similarities in our style. 

For this album, I wanted to just have an intimate encounter with God musically and not get a bunch of co-writers and ideas, because this is just my walk with God. I wanted to keep it on an intimate level, pure with only the words that He gave me. What does God want to hear from me? I've always been seeking out songs since I was young. I never had any idea how rich the Bible was with imagery. I got lost in it. You can study Jesus, but following Him is living. The songs all came from reading Scripture and listening to sermons based on God's Word. 

I'm still with Journey. These songs are about my personal walk with God. He is so worthy. I hope they have ministry for the Kingdom of God. Music is what I know, and if I can reach people with my songs, I'm dedicating my gift of music-making for God's glory.

Lyrics:
We love, because Lord, You chose to love us first
From Your throne, reign the heavens, far above the earth 
Sent The Savior the world could not condemn
Gave us riches in Your glory, and hearts to comprehend

We Praise You, Lord, Your love is deeper than deep, 
The well of living waters, beyond all that I dream 
Father God, Your mystery's deeper than deep 
Limitless, devotion, All You've given for me
Can You take me deeper, deeper than Deep

Not bounded by time Lord, You're everywhere 
Eternally, Your mercy's in the air
Nothing's impossible, Your boundless grace endures
None as Holy, or what Your righteousness secures 

We praise You, Lord, Your love is deeper than deep 
The well of living waters, Beyond all that I dream 
Father God, Your mystery's deeper than deep 
Limitless, devotion, All You've given for me 
Can You take me, Deeper Deeper than Deep

Everlasting and without end
Where souls of man are born again
I am Humbled by Divine dimensions - unseen 
Where peace and power all transcend, proves Your eternity 

We praise You, Lord, Your love is deeper than deep 
The well of living waters, Beyond all that I dream 
Father God, Your mystery's deeper than deep 
Limitless, devotion, All You've given for me 
Can You take me deeper, deeper than Deep

Human nature born in the fullness of time 
Without beginning or end 
Your perfection holds us to Your nature - Divine 
Omniscient, Omnipresent, Chosen by grace, 
There is still a remnant Majestic Power, 
Author of all Scripture, in this world Thunder and wind are just a whisper

God knows every detail of our lives, and He already knows we feel discouraged or down on ourselves. That's a lie that the enemy is telling us. Worrying about measuring up and trying to be perfect are natural feelings. We're supposed to have imperfections to remind us of our need for our Healer and our Redeemer, Jesus. As Christians, we are God's adopted sons and daughters, and we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."

The song beautifully captures the emotion of the biblical truth expressed in Psalm 42:7 (NKJV): "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and billows have gone over me." That prayerful language instills awe in us about how sovereign our God is. When we feel like we are on shaky ground and we are dealing with the uncertainty of our situations, the economy and our world, this song allows us to dwell on the unshakable nature of God. When all else fades away, He will remain.

We know from the Bible that "We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19 (NKJV). One could listen to this song as a relationship song, and they would be right. God wants to have a relationship with us. What I think is cool is how the song is a conversation between us and God. A lot of times people think they need to get it together before they can come to the Lord or in order for Him to love us or bless us or look at us. It has nothing to do with us or what we can do, but with Jesus. 

God is so good. He's for us and not against us. It is God who has made us beautiful, worthy and righteous. That's the hardest thing for fallen people to accept. Even in our weakness, God sees us as holy and righteous because of His Son, Jesus. If people can grasp that concept, they will be holy because of the overflow of God's love in them. That's the Great news of the Gospel that you can celebrate by singing this song, "We praise You, Lord, Your love is deeper than deep, 
the well of living waters, beyond all that I dream." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.