Lauren Talley rose to national prominence in the gospel music field with her family, The Talleys, who have spent many years at the forefront of gospel music. The Gospel is Lauren's latest solo collection of songs based on God's Word.

Lauren's heartbeat is to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ Jesus. That type of bold proclamation can be found in every song on this album, including "I Am Not Ashamed," "The God Who Never Changes," "Our Song Will Be Jesus" and a gorgeous rendition of the hymn "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" I had the chance to speak with Lauren about "Everything."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I had never co-written songs at all until I started writing for this record, The Gospel. I had a very clear concept in my mind of what I wanted this record to convey. I've been noticing a disturbing trend in the wider Christian culture the past few years. The Church seems to be getting away from the gospel. Christians I've known for a long time have allowed the world's values to influence them in their beliefs and in our teaching.

I talked with several writers that I know personally and who are friends, and they helped me bring these ideas to life. "Everything" is a song that came about in a roundabout way. My friend Kenna West had scheduled several co-writes for us, including one with Cindy Morgan. We've been connected with Cindy through my family since the 90s. My uncle helped facilitate her first album. It was nice to see her again. 

We didn't know what we were going to write, and we started talking about different things going on in our lives. We were each going through some difficult things. When we started sharing our experiences, we realized that we needed to write a song for people who were feeling alone and feeling abandoned. Cindy said the first line immediately: "do you ever think you're the only one who feels alone and you can't tell anyone?" We as Christians come to church going through horrible things, and we feel like we can't tell anyone because we're afraid of being judged or criticized. 

The song is an honest and vulnerable look at the way we all feel occasionally. We're all going to feel broken at times. The truth of the gospel is that Jesus sees us in our brokenness and offers us His grace, in spite of our faults and our failures and our sins. He is everything that we need in those moments. He is everything we need for our salvation. Even after we come to Christ, He is everything we need, and He is the One who can put our broken pieces back together. That's what we are trying to say with this song.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV): "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.'" 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV): "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

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."

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NIV): "For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Romans 10:9 (NKJV): "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 1:16 (NKJV): "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Romans 8:38-40 (NKJV): "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

What is the takeaway message?

The song has comforted me in several tough moments. Hopefully if it means that much to me, it will mean something to someone else. Cindy was an influence to me when I was first starting out, and I recorded her song "How Could I Ask For More." I've always admired her a lot. She was gracious, and she agreed to sing on this song with me.

I wanted to do a record of songs that bring the core truths of our faith of the gospel back to the forefront. I want this record to make the statement that this is who we are as followers of Christ, this is what we believe, and that the gospel is truth that's worth standing for. This album is about what is most important for a Christian to believe.

The gospel is truth that confronts us. When we hear truth and we disagree with the Scripture, it isn't the Scripture that is in error, it's us. I believe my job as a minister of the gospel and as a Christian artist, when I stand on the platform, is to share the gospel. I don't need to preach a sermon, but if I give people the gospel, it is their choice to respond. When they choose one way or the other, the Holy Spirit's job is to convict them in different areas of life. 

I want this record to not only give non-believers the truth of the gospel, but I also want to encourage the church to not lose sight of our main purpose. Our main purpose is to go into all the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only thing that is going to save them and save this world. I want people to go back to the Bible to find out what truth is, who Jesus is and what He taught. There are many voices in our culture telling you to gloss over the gospel. Jesus is the Living Word of God. The Word of God is the ultimate authority on how to live our lives. Keep preaching the Bible. That's where our answers are found.

Lyrics:
Do you ever think that you're the only one
Who feels alone and you can't tell anyone
Even in a crowded room you're by yourself 
And no one could ever tell that you need some help 

Do you ever feel like you're an empty cup
Like you'll never measure up cause you're just not good enough
There is one who sees the wounds that never healed 
He knows how you feel 
Jesus 

He is everything 
He is everywhere 
The loving arms that hold you when you think that no one cares
When you feel like you've got nothing 
You've been searching for that something 
When you finally find the one thing you need 
You've found everything 

He's the peace that comes and holds you close 
That fills you up with hope
And never lets you go 
Even when you've fallen face down in the dirt
Even when it hurts
There's Jesus 

It's so hard to put in words
Cause it doesn't make much sense 
The only way I know to tell you just who Jesus is 

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."

As followers of Jesus, we know that we can trust God's Word. We are all a work in progress. Have faith and let God "work all things together for good." Spend time with God and let Him redeem and restore you. We are not at the end of our story. God's still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation. That's why I write these devotionals, in the hopes that others may learn the truth that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there is no other Name under Heaven by which we may be saved. I find Paul's exhortation in 2nd Corinthians 4:5-6 very relevant to us as believers today and a strong reminder of why we all need to live for Jesus.

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. What a wonderful, loving and gracious God we serve. 

God loves you so much. Lean on Him, and He'll give you strength. This song is all for God's glory. When we are in communion with God, it is joyful and not a burden. I sing along with the truth of this song, rejoicing in the lyrics: "There is one who sees the wounds that never healed, He knows how you feel, Jesus." Amen to that!

This song is available on iTunes here.

Listen to the song below.