Ellie Holcomb's voice is instantly unforgettable. After two EPs, Magnolia and With You Now, Holcomb's 2014 debut full-length album As Sure As the Sun featured the hit songs "The Broken Beautiful" and "Marvelous Light," earning Ellie the GMA Dove Award for Best New Artist. After a three year wait, she returned earlier this year with a thirteen song album Red Sea Road.

Opening track "Find You Here" is an engaging song with Ellie's passionate vocals setting the tone for this exceptional album. The song is an unashamed declaration of faith based on Philippians 4:4-7, which reminds us that "the peace of God transcends all understanding." That redemptive, biblical and catchy tone continues throughout the rest of the Red Sea Road. I had the chance to speak with Ellie about "Wonderfully Made."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I'm the oldest of five kids, and I have a little sister who came 10 years after me. She's the baby, and there are three boys in the middle. She is all of our favorite, she's beloved. We were on a family vacation at the beach and often, this comes up for girls, you get insecure about wearing a bathing suit in front of a lot of other people. I was talking with my sister about how frustrating it is to live in a world of comparison telling us what beautiful is and what you need to measure up to, and if you are a woman, this is what you are supposed to look like on TV, in magazines and on Instagram. Even comparing yourself to people around you in your life. It was a sweet and honest conversation. 

We started talking about what God says about us and how He sees us when He looks at us. My little sister said that she doesn't have time for this comparison game anymore, and she was going to take what God said about her as true. It was one of those moments where I realized that would change everything, if we just believe what He says. I was blown away. 

I came back home and thought about how we live with so much shame and this idea that we aren't enough and aren't measuring up to this standard of comparison. I sat on my bathroom floor with my guitar, reading Psalm 139, and thinking about my sister and myself and so many people who feel like they are not enough. I wept my way through writing and singing this song, thinking about these promises that God made us intentionally and He saw us before we were ever formed, physically, and He made us just so. It is my true heart's cry to say God, please help me believe this is true. It is one of my favorite songwriting moments.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV): "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."

Psalm 139:13-18 (NLV): "For You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to You, for the greatness of the way I was made brings fear. Your works are great and my soul knows it very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and put together with care in the deep part of the earth. Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be. Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are! If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You."

Song of Solomon 4:7 (NIV): "You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

Romans 12:2 (VOICE): "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete."

Philippians 4:6 (VOICE): "Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come."

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

What is the takeaway message?

After talking with my sister on the beach, I was on a paddle board looking out on creation, and I realized that God loves me as much as His creation. I was delighted in knowing that He loves me and created me. I felt so free. All of a sudden, these dolphins were swimming by me as I was sitting and knowing that I am wonderfully made. That phrase from my sister of thinking about believing what God says about me changed my perspective and shifted my spirit. That's where this song came from. On the days that I forget it, I pray for God to help me to believe what He says about me with this song. 

This is one of those songs that every time I sing it, and I'm questioning my identity and my ability to sing about Him and share God's Word, it turns out good for me. The accusation from the Enemy and from myself that I'm not worthy to share about God because I'm a mess and a terrible mom, and you let that tape of self-hatred play in your head, this is a song that I sing. A lot of times, it can help bring me out of that eyes-down focus on myself, and it lifts my eyes to look at the face of the Father. I know how I love my kids, and even when they are misbehaving and exerting their wills, I love them. There's something about this song that helps me see the Father's face looking at me, even when I'm struggling, by shifting my eyes from myself to Him.

Lyrics:
It's two in the morning
And I'm still awake in my bed
And I can't shake these lies that keep reading
Around in my he-head

What if I saw me, the way that You see me?
What if I believed it was true?
What if I traded, this shame and self-hatred?
For a chance at believing You

That You knit me together
In my mother's womb
And You say that I've never been
Hidden from You
And You say that I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made

You search me and know me
You know when I sit, when I rise
So You must know the choices I've, made
And the pain that I hi-hide

What if I saw me, the way that You see me?
What if I believed it was true?
What if I traded, this shame and self-hatred?
For a chance at believing You

'Cause You knit me together
In my mother's womb
And You say that I've never been
Hidden from You
And You say that I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made
And Your eyes, they have seen me
Before I was born
And You know all the good things
That You made me for
And I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made

When I consider; the Heavens above
Ohhh what is man, that You're mindful of us
'Til You say that we're wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made
And You promise that You'll never
Leave me, oh Lord
Oh that You hem me in, both behind and before
And I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made

And You knit me together
In my mother's womb
And You say that I've never been
Hidden from You
And You say that I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made
And Your eyes, they have seen me
Before I was born
And You know all the good things
That You made me for
And I'm wonderfully
Wo-onderfully made
Wonderfully made ...

Ellie expresses her prayers to God, allowing listeners to eavesdrop on her vertical offerings and captivating ballads, one of Ellie's strengths. Ellie is an anointed songwriter, and she has a profound way of bringing me closer to God with her poignant words, tender singing and inspirational truths. Ellie has consistently impressed me with her mature faith and sincere desire to serve Jesus. The eternal love of Jesus is beautifully expressed in these compelling songs that seep into your heart, soul and mind.

For me, the most encouraging part of this song is the message that I don't have to be perfect, but that God knows me and loves me just as I am. That is cause for celebration, as we all have freedom to be ourselves and know that He has great plans for us as His children. A blessing I've received from this song is listening to my daughters sing these words with all of their hearts. These are the thoughts I want them to know, to point them to the unconditional love of their Heavenly Father. This album is loaded with positive grace-filled messages of hope.

Probably the most memorable moments on the album for me are the songs about being made in God's image and not seeking society's approval, but knowing that God created and loves us all as we are. That critical message is heard loud and clear in this song. Struggling with identity issues is not limited to girls, but in today's society which sends out signals that image is everything, the message of this song is very edifying. I pray that they know the truth of their identities that they were made in God's image and likeness. His Word tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."

For me, having three young daughters, it is so important for them to hear this message. They need to look so far beyond what the world says and really find their true identities in the Lord. Our thoughts are constantly under attack by the enemy, and this song is a great way to commit to ourselves and to God. God's Word tells us to trust in what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. God knows us intimately, and because of what Jesus did on the Cross, He sees us as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, fully known and forgiven, no matter what you've done. If you've put all of your hope and trust in Jesus, there is nothing that can separate you from His love. God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us. That's reason to sing this song at the top of our lungs in gratefulness to Him: "And You know all the good things, that You made me for, and I'm wonderfully made." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.