The songs on Sing it Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, a collection from the well-known country singer Reba McEntire, all express the deep love Jesus has for us and how His mercy and grace is something we don't deserve, which causes our hearts to overflow with gratefulness. The double disc project features hymns of the faith, which Reba grew up singing as a child in Oklahoma, alongside newer contemporary praise and worship songs of hope. 

These songs are all great expressions of our thankfulness back to God for what He has done for us. I had the chance to speak with Reba about "Softly and Tenderly." The delicate and reverent recording of the song on the album also features Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song is a really pretty song that I love from my childhood, singing it at my church in Oklahoma. It's just a wonderful song. It's a tender song. I always called it my altar call song: "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling 'o sinner, come home.'" The harmony and the way Kelly and Trisha sang on it enhanced the song in my opinion and just made it sweeter. Who could refuse giving their life over to the Lord after hearing that?

I think when they hear this song, whatever the Holy Spirit interprets to them will be their special gift. When I pray, and when I don't know what to pray, I let the Holy Spirit take over and let Him pray for me, because He knows what I need more than I do. I think that's what I'm asking of this song and of this whole album, is for the Holy Spirit to interpret for each individual listener what He wants them to know and to need. What they need out of this album may be something totally different than what I need out of this album.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Isaiah 40:1-2 (MSG): "Comfort, oh comfort my people," says your God, "Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear that she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of--forgiven! She's been punished enough and more than enough, and now it's over and done with."

Isaiah 40:11 (VOICE): "He will feed His fold like a shepherd; He will gather together His lambs--the weak and the wobbly ones--into His arms. He will carry them close to His bosom, and tenderly lead like a shepherd the mother of her lambs."

Romans 2:4 (NIV): "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"

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."

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT): "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

1 John 2:1 (NIV): "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

Luke 15:11-32 (NIV): The Parable of the Prodigal Son

What is the takeaway message of the song and album?

I sing songs for enjoyment and inner peace. "Jesus Loves Me" is a song that says Jesus loves me, and back to back right after that I put the song "O How I love Jesus." I sequenced it that way because it's such a blessing and a wonderful feeling to know that Jesus loves me, but I want Jesus to know that I love Him back. Then when I was sequencing the album, I wanted "When the Roll is Called up Yonder" to be next, because I want everybody to know that I know where I am going. I've got faith. I've had people look at me like I had two heads growing out of my shoulders, saying "how do you know you're going to Heaven?" I've said because God said that's where I'm going. Jesus came down, and I know exactly what's going on. When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there, by golly I know I'm going there. That's how strong my faith is. 

"O Happy Day" is a praise and worship song. When Jesus washed my sins away, that's how I know where I'm going. "Amazing Grace" is a great song, and it makes you cry. "I'll Fly Away" takes me back to my childhood. Can you imagine how secure and great that makes a child feel? You'd think that would be scary, flying away, but no I knew I'd be flying with angels. I love that song. "In the Garden / Wonderful Peace" is the type of song that gives you the inner peace that everything is taken care of. That sets the picture right there. It's a sweet song. I love that one, and it really touches my soul. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" is one you can get up and stomp your feet with. "How Great Thou Art" is the one song on this album that wrecks me. It absolutely tears my heart out.

Lyrics:
Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling, 
Calling For You And For Me; 
See, On The Portals He's Waiting And Watching, 
Watching For You And For Me.

Come Home, Come Home; 
Ye Who Are Weary Come Home; 
Earnestly, Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling, 
Calling, O Sinner, Come Home! 

Why Should We Tarry When Jesus Is Pleading, 
Pleading For You And For Me? 
Why Should We Linger And Heed Not His Mercies, 
Mercies For You And For Me? 

Time Is Now Fleeting, The Moments Are Passing, 
Passing From You And From Me; 
Shadows Are Gathering, Deathbeds Are Coming, 
Coming For You And For Me. 

O For The Wonderful Love He Has Promised, 
Promised For You And For Me! 
Though We Have Sinned, He Has Mercy And Pardon, 
Pardon For You And For Me. 

This song helps remind me of the biblical truth that God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to Earth to seek and to save the lost. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, this song is a salvation message that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is by your side. There is nothing we have been given that is more valuable than our salvation. Take time to reflect on how thankful you are for the gift of Jesus and the moment that He found you and saved you. Also remember John 3:17: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
 
What a wonderful, loving and gracious God we serve. I am so thankful to God for saving me through His Son Jesus. It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. He's a kind God who wants us to know Him. Let His kindness lead you to repentance. This song is all about trusting in God and confessing to Him and others when you fail or have struggles. Lay those at the feet of Jesus, and He'll take them from you and release you from that burden. God wants to hear from you. God wants us to boldly approach the throne of mercy and grace to receive and obtain what we need from Him. His mercies are new every morning.

When you sing along with this great hymn of the faith, make sure you are in prayer that you are submitting yourself to God. Jesus is ever true to His Word. What He spoke on earth, He affirms in heaven. The Word is a message of grace. We can all take comfort in the truth expressed in this song: "come home, come home, ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, callin 'o sinner, come home!'" Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.