Building 429 has blessed listeners with a string of hit songs, including "Glory Defined," "Always," "Listen to the Sound," "Where I Belong," and "We Won't Be Shaken." In that same vein, their newest anthem is "Fear No More." Building 429 is comprised of lead singer Jason Roy, drummer Michael Anderson, guitarist Jesse Garcia, bassist Aaron Branch and Steven Stewart on keyboards.
 
The song has really been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God completely no matter our circumstances or personal distractions or concerns. "Fear No More" has become a personal prayer for me in the style of "Stars" by Skillet and "Live it Well" by Switchfoot.
 
We all deal with some level of fear, worry and anxiety. God knows that about us. I've read that God tells us 365 times in His Word "do not fear" or "do not worry." Enough for a daily reminder to not spend time caught up in ourselves, but allowing ourselves to be satisfied with a fresh filling of God and His Holy Spirit every day. I have been attentive to that concept in my daily Bible study. I had the chance to speak with lead singer Jason Roy about "Fear No More."
Please tell me the personal story behind the song.

Being still and being in silence are not my favorite things in the world. As we were getting ready to make our last album, our manager was diagnosed with cancer. It stopped our whole world. All of the momentum we had went away and we stopped and served him. The hardest part for him was that he was in a situation where he didn't have any control. And, he just let the Lord do whatever He was going to do.

There was a scripture that was laid on our hearts from Exodus 14:13-14, which says, "Do not be afraid. The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is keep still." We decided as a band to be still and wait on Him to move. My manager went through a huge surgery on his kidney and we prayed to be still and to have confidence in who God is. 

Six weeks later, my manager had the same surgery again on his other kidney. There was a phrase he said, "I'm not giving up, but I'm giving in." That's when I started writing this song. As I've gotten older, I've weathered a bunch of storms and been through some ups and downs. I've seen sickness. I've seen death. I've seen marriages dissolve. I've seen all those things. So, it allows me to look at songs from a completely different perspective.

It just feels like this season of life has all these curve balls that don't make sense. My pastor said, "The setbacks of this world are the setups for the Kingdom of God." All of that was in my head when I wrote "Fear No More." So, when I wrote the lyric, "This isn't what I'd choose/But it's where I'm finding You/When I'm broken and undone/Your mercy has just begun," it was me writing a lyric that says I'm not giving up, I'm just giving in to what you've planned. That was our prayer for the last year and a half. It still is our prayer. It's still where we are. The song is me asking God to remove my fear and to remember who He is.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Exodus 14:13-14 (NLV): "But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid! Be strong, and see how the Lord will save you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is keep still."
 
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV): "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Lamentations 3:22-23 (VOICE): "How enduring is God's loyal love; the Eternal has inexhaustible compassion. Here they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as the day."

1 John 4:18-19 (NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us."

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV): "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

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."

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

What is the takeaway message?

Every step of "Fear No More" has been an exercise of saying, "I don't know where this is going to end, but I'm not going to fear in it." I wanted to write a song that spoke to the reality that many times, the things we wouldn't ever choose actually lead us directly into the most beautiful, life-altering moments where the reality of God's presence is beyond a doubt.

Whatever challenge you may be facing in this time, I hope "Fear No More" reminds you that God is with you in the trial; that while every great book has moments of doubt, the hero is always with us, and the final chapter is yet to be written. The biggest reason we fall prey to fear is that we believe the biggest lie that Satan tells us: that we're alone. When you realize how precious you are to the Lord. That he stands beside you, and takes your suffering on Himself through Jesus Christ. It'll give you a different perspective on the struggles that you face.
 
Lyrics:
I'm wishing I could see the finish line
Where this ends, where it lands
Guess I lost my vision when the pain set in

Can I believe
When I don't see
Can I really let it be
Out of my hands
When it's out of my hands

This isn't what I'd choose
But it's where I'm finding You
When I'm broken and undone
Your mercy's just begun
You overcome my doubt
Your hands are reaching out
You hold me through the storm
And I will fear no more

Can't look into the future but
I know where you have been
Before me, after and always within

I'm not giving up
I'm giving in
To what You've planned
For Your Glory

This isn't what I'd choose
But it's where I'm finding you
When I'm broken and undone
Your mercy's just begun
You overcome my doubt
Your hands are reaching out
You hold me through the storm
And I will fear no more 

Closing Thoughts

I loved the chorus and catchy theme of "Fear No More" when I first heard it. 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 that we can all relate to. For me, one consistent prayer is for hope. I love how this song has that emotional edge and points me to Christ for peace and hope.

Know that Jesus loves you and has something better planned for you if you trust in Him as your Savior.
 
The message of "Fear No More" will challenge you to think about your own doubts. It serves as a reminder that Jesus calls on all of us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection. It also gives you some added reassurance: He has overcome death and fear. 

You can know that He's real, He's near, and He's just a breath away. This song represents the victory that you have over your battles before you even know the earthly outcome, simply by trusting that God is going before you and He wins. You can face your daily battles with more courage and strength, resting in His promise (Romans 8:28, "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.")
 
"Fear No More" is a daily prayer, asking God to come and change our hearts and change our lives in such a way that our behavior and the way we live flows from God living inside of us, as believers. Only Jesus can give you your true identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes you, as one of His followers. He is all we need. Join in with the band and sing along in faith, "You overcome my doubt/ Your hands are reaching out/You hold me through the storm/And I will fear no more." Amen to that.