Radio single "Hold On" by Abandon is from the group's self-titled debut album on Forefront Records. Abandon EP is a great new album by this new San Antonio rock act. I’ve been greatly enjoying the song "Providence" since last year which is one of the energy-gushing songs off the self-titled debut. "Hold On" has grabbed me again and I can’t get enough of the sound and message of this great new band.

Abandon’s sound has been described as The Killers meet U2 which is a great description. I would also compare them to The All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Mute Math and Christian rock bands After Edmund and Nevertheless

"'Hold On' is about a teenage girl who is experiencing some rough times in her life," describes band member Josh Engler. "Although the character is fictional, she represents the majority of our nation’s youth. 'Hold On' is intended to offer the listener hope. We want listeners to know that someone will find them. Look for the searchlights. We’re excited to talk with people about faith and relate to them on a musical level. We love to see people changed, to bring peace and hope. At the end of the show, if people have more hope, we’ve done our job."

I had the opportunity to interview Josh Engler and I specifically asked him to expand on the themes of the song "Hold On." Here are his responses to my questions.

Josh, please tell me about the line "She’s looking for a Savior?"

The girl in our song has just had a tough situation where her parents have gone through a divorce and she comes to realize that we all need a Savior.

How about the line "She’s hoping that Heaven comes through?"

That’s her cry after realizing that she doesn’t have to go through her sadness alone is that her savior in Heaven comes to be with her.

I especially like the last line of the chorus: "Hold on, hold on, look for the searchlights."

Yeah, that’s the theme of the song and the album, that God is looking for all of us and we all need a Savior and God wants to be with us.

Are there any Bible verses that came to mind as encouragement to 'hold on'?

The band’s hope for everyone and heart for the audience is the message of this song. God has a plan for everyone. See Hebrews 11:40.
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Please tell me more about Abandon’s mission to bring peace and hope.

Some people need hope and peace and we play for many public High Schools and want people to know their potential and ultimately point them to Christ as their ultimate peace and hope.

Lyrics to "Hold On"

She sits alone and wonders
When is the end of broken dreams
This isn’t what I pictured
She says as tears run down her cheeks
She needs a friend beside her
She’s looking for a Savior

Hold on, hold on, someone will find you
Hold on, hold on, somebody loves you
Hold on, hold on, you’re not drowning this time
Hold on, hold on, look for the searchlights

She grabs her coat to leave
So sure it’s gonna be the end
Another broken family
Tears are her only friends
This isn’t the life they wanted
She’s hoping that Heaven comes through

Does anybody care and do you even see
Look past my skin until you see me
Do you even know what I’m going through
I need to talk to someone can I talk to you
Does anybody care and do you even see
I’m running out of hope and sanity
Do you even know what I’m going through
I’m having a hard time facing the truth
Does anybody care

I loved the chorus and catchy theme of this song when I first listened to it, but then when I heard the bridge I was totally hooked. The depth of the struggles that many of us have to overcome, feeling that nobody cares or knows what we are going through, is something we can all relate to. For me, one consistent prayer is for hope and I love how this song has that emotional rock edge and ultimately points me to Christ for peace and hope. Know that Jesus loves you and has something better planned for us if we trust in Him as our Savior. "God is looking for all of us and we all need a Savior and God wants to be with us."

You can watch the video for "Hold On" here.