Influence Church, a church based out of Anaheim Hills, California, created Influence Music as a way to make and release music that glorifies God. A movement that has attracted some of LA's most gifted songwriters, producers and creatives. Those who have set aside successful careers and high level positions to help build this music ministry. Matt Gilman, Melody Noel, Michael Ketterer and Whitney Medina are the talents behind Influence Music. Influence Music has recently dropped their sophomore album, Rebels.
 
Rebels features 10 powerful inspirational tracks. This includes previously released singles "Redeemed," "Honest," "Right Here (Hallelujah)," "Over and Over" and the title track. I had the chance to speak with Melody Noel about their song, "Honest."
Please tell me the personal story behind the song.

"Honest" is one f the most vulnerable songs I've ever written. I was so nervous to release the song. I've been a Christian my whole life, and my parents are Christian. But I walked away from the church when I was 14. I came back to the church when I was 19. I had an incredible encounter with God at Hillsong New York. I was a student at New York University. And the church was across the street from my dorm. 

It's been a cool journey coming full circle. I was in a different place when I wrote the song. Last summer, I had been in ministry for a year. And I was wrestling with doubt more than I ever had in my life. But I found freedom in being real with God.  I had never planned to be in ministry (I love it). And there are things I didn't expect to encounter. 

In ways, my rose-colored glasses were removed. It caused doubts to spiral within me. I felt like everything I knew about Christianity was out the window. But, I've had real encounters with God. I'm in too deep to ever turn my back on Him. The more I bring what I feel to the light, the more He ministers to me.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 28:1-2 (NIV): "To You, LORD, I call; You are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to You for help, as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place."
 
Psalm 63:4 (VOICE): "I will bless You with every breath of my life; I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name."

Psalm 51:10-11 (NKJV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV): "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
 
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV): "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
 
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV): "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
 
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV): "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

What is the takeaway message?

I'm in deep with following the Lord. And, like Peter, I'm at the point of saying "where else would I go if I didn't follow Him?" "Honest" is all about that tension of having doubts and not denying real encounters with the Lord.

The most autobiographical part of the song is in the second verse. I had come out of a season where I had felt the manifest presence of God. I felt like He had left me. But, I know that's not true. We go through seasons where we have to walk by faith and not by sight. I wasn't having an emotional connection at the time. God is so good. 

I was anxious about leading "Honest" at church. Because, as a worship leader, I have the responsibility of putting words in people's mouths. And I don't want people to make a bad confession. I wanted to include "sometimes believing is hard to do" in the lyrics. My co-writers said that's not how I was feeling so I needed to leave out the word "sometimes."

I talked with Mike about how getting people to speak the truth is the goal of therapy. Once you tell the truth, you form the bond of attachment. "Honest" is about showing the Lord the bond of attachment we have with Him. And knowing that He will not leave you. 

I love that we serve a God who embraces our humanity and loves us through the process. What's something you've had to be honest with God about?
 
Lyrics:
How can I write to someone I've never seen?
How can I love someone I've yet to meet?
I wanna know
I gotta be honest
 
How can I trust someone who says they're good
When it doesn't turn out the way that I think it should?
I wanna know
I'm just being honest
I hope You're not afraid of my questioning
 
'Cause I will fight, fight, fight
Through the doubt, doubt, doubt
And I will pray, pray, pray
Till faith runs out, out, out
And I will push past the feeling
You're just too good to be true
But I gotta be honest
Believing is hard to do
 
Somehow they know
When You've walked into the room
They laugh and they cry
How am I missing You?
Why do I feel so alone?
 
But I will run, run, run
Back to hope, hope, hope
And I will trust, trust, trust
When I don't know, know, know
And I will push past the feeling
What You're just too good to be true
But I gotta be honest
Believing is hard to
 
I hope You're not afraid of my questioning
Am I wasting my breath or are You listening?
'Cause if seeing is believing, how can I believe?
 
But I will fight, fight, fight
Through the doubt, doubt, doubt
And I will pray, pray, pray
Till faith runs out, out, out
And I'll remember the first time
You called me by name
 
But I will run, run, run
Back to hope, hope, hope
And I will trust, trust, trust
When I don't know, know, know
And I'll remember the first time
My heartfelt Your love
 
And I will walk, walk, walk
Not by sight, sight, sight
'Cause I will see You one day
Even if it's on the other side
I will push past the feeling
You're just too good to be true
But I gotta be honest
Believing is hard to do

Closing Thoughts

"Honest" challenges me to think about what I'm allowing to rule in my heart instead of giving myself to God. This song is about trusting in God. Confessing to Him and to others when you fail or have struggles. Lay those at the feet of Jesus. He'll take your burdens. He'll release you from them.

This song is a great prayer to rid ourselves of worldly distractions and temptations that lead us away from God. Praying instead to "be a man after God's own heart." The theme is relatable for all believers.
 
"Honest" has a Psalm-like reflective tone, with sincere and prayerful lyrics. If you don't know how to word your prayers of thankfulness, sing along with this song of faith. "Honest" includes a testimony of submission to the Lord that we can all pray about our personal struggles. Our weaknesses are nothing to hide. In fact, because of our weaknesses, God's grace and strength are perfectly revealed.
 
Even when God saves us, we sometimes beat ourselves up about failure. Feeling unworthy of God's love. That's the point: we aren't worthy. We can't earn grace. It's a gift of unmerited favor from God for His children. Scripture tells us, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). God still thinks of us as His children, His sons, and His daughters--even in our fallen and sinful nature. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
 
We can lift our hands to celebrate. We can lift our hands in surrender. We can lift our hands in confidence knowing that His mercy is unfailing. His love is never-ending. He is our refuge and our strength. 

God's ultimate will is not to bring affliction, but restoration. He wants to restore us so that we may experience His unfailing love. "Honest" has become one of my personal anthems. And I love to sing the sincere and emotive lyrics of hope: "And I will push past the feeling/That You're just too good to be true/ But I gotta be honest/Believing is hard to do."

"Honest" reminds me of His glorious promise in Ephesians 3:19 (NKJV): "To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Amen to that.