I've long been a "Panhead"--that's what the Skillet fan club members call themselves--going back to their self-titled grunge rock-style debut album and their electronic-tinged rock follow-ups, Hey You, I Love Your Soul and Invincible, which hooked me with their catchy, personal and vertically-focused songs including "More Faithful," "Rest" and "Best Kept Secret." I've had the great opportunity to speak with Skillet lead singer John Cooper about many songs over the past ten years of writing these Behind the Song devotionals. And, I've always enjoyed Skillet's biblical viewpoints in their songwriting. Skillet drummer and vocalist Jen Ledger joined the band when she was just 18 years old. The artist recently she stepped out in faith to release her debut solo project, LEDGER EP, which features the singles, "Bold" and "Not Dead Yet."

Her heart behind her songs and how her faith and biblical understanding has guided her in moments of anxiety and fear is beautifully expressed in these catchy tunes. I love how LEDGER phrases biblical truth in vertically directed songs to encourage and edify listeners to live for God. I had the chance to speak with Jen Ledger in-person at Winter Jam in Reading, Pennsylvania about her song, "Completely."
Please tell me the personal story behind the song.

The funny thing about "Completely" is that it's completely opposite of my singles "Not Dead Yet" and "Warrior." The latter two have intense and deep meanings behind them because they deal with some of my darker times overcoming things with the Lord.  "Completely" is a simple celebration of God's love. I came to America when I was 16 years old and gave my life to Jesus. And, I feel like I’ve been on an adventure every day since. Through the highs and lows, and in my darkest seasons, I’ve seen God bring light and His power. This song is a celebration of God’s love. It says, "I can’t believe I have this love, which is simple but the most profound thing in my life. It’s worth singing about. That’s the message behind "Completely."

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

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."

1 Corinthians 1:27 (VOICE): "But celebrate this: God selected the world's foolish to bring shame upon those who think they are wise; likewise, He selected the world's weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV): "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Romans 8:31 (NKJV): "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:38-39 (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?

I find it so mind-blowing that before the creation of the world, God knew me and He loved me. It's simple, but it's profound and something worth celebrating. You can’t listen to "Completely" and mistake it being about a relationship with another person; it’s only about God and His love. What I love about God is that I don't ever have to hide or be ashamed before Him. There’s safety in His love that I'll never find on earth or from a person. I can never let God down and I can never shock Him or make Him turn away from me. I don't have to appease Him. I don’t have to work for His love. I find that so incredibly powerful. In my life, it always breaks down to that simple message. Whether I’m successful or not, God loves me. If I die, the only thing that really matters is that God loves me.

Whatever you are facing, whether you lose everything or gain everything, all that matters is that you are found in God’s love. For me, it’s really the only thing in my life that I can cling to. I can't create it, earn it, or change it. He knew every decision and every time I was going to sin and let Him down, and He still chose me and loves me. The glimpses we get of God’s love are breathtaking, and when we live in that truth, we want to sing about it. When you have those days when you're disappointed in yourself, remember that God loves you.

Lyrics:
You are the One
You are the One I need
You are the One who loves me completely
 
I don't have to hide when You’re with me
The best, the worst
I know You never leave
It steals my breath away
When You lift my face and say
Who I was, who I am, and who I'll be
Has been claimed I am Your eternally
 
You are the One
You are the One I need
You are the One who loves me completely
In a world that's full of mysteries
One thing is simple as can be
You are the One who loves me completely
You’re the One
You’re the One
 
You have called new life up from the dust
Faithful even though I've given up
You take the chaos that's in me
And You create a symphony
From who I was, who I am, and who I'll be
I am changed, I am Yours eternally
 
You are the One
You are the One I need
You are the One who loves me completely
In a world that's full of mysteries
One thing is simple as can be
You are the One who loves me completely
You’re the One
You’re the One
You’re the One
You’re the One
 
All I am is forever Yours
Everything I've been living for
All I am is forever Yours
You have my heart, my soul
 
You are the One
You are the One I need
You are the One who loves me completely
In a world that's full of mysteries
One thing is simple as can be
You are the One who loves me completely
You’re the One
You’re the One
You’re the One
You’re the One

Closing Thoughts

When I heard LEDGER’s album with songs about Christian identity, being bold about faith, and finding truth and love in God instead of from the world, I wanted to shout those messages from the mountaintops with her. "Completely" is a celebration of God's love, despite our brokenness. The song challenges me to think about what I'm allowing to rule in my heart, instead of giving myself completely to God.
 
Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death. And, He wants us to have abundant life in Him. What a wonderful, encouraging truth. 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's nothing that can separate you from His love. If you think about the type of faith we are called to have as believers, it is described as the faith of a mustard seed.

Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires us to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to more fully trust God with our lives. As Jen and I discussed "Completely" and its profound message, we talked about how we are commanded to love others by Jesus. This song challenges me to think about how well I'm loving others. 1 John 4:19 says "We love because He first loved us."

On page 94 of the book Crazy Love, Francis Chan writes: "I was challenged to do a little exercise with these verses, one that was profoundly convicting. Take the phrase love is patient and substitute your name for the word love. Do it for every phrase in the passage. By the end, don't you feel like a liar? If I am meant to represent what love is, then I often fail to love people well. Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are." 
 
God tells us in the Bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth. His love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. As believers, heaven is calling our name. He is real, He is near and He is just a breath away. He is the author of our lives and knows what's best for us--much better than we do. That's reason to sing this empowering anthem at the top of our lungs in gratefulness to Him. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "In a world that's full of mysteries/One thing is simple as can be/You are the One who loves me completely." Amen to that.