I've been hooked by the emotional and biblical messages of Jason Gray's music since I first heard "Blessed Be," a song from his All the Lovely Losers album. In fact, "Blessed Be" is the 8th song I featured in my weekly "Behind the Song" devotional article series, an NRT favourite since 2008. Since then, I've featured many more of Jason's offerings. In fact, this is our 16th devotional together. And, after 11 years and 984 song devotionals, Jason Gray is the most featured artist.

I'm always excited to hear new music from Jason. His songs "Laugh Out Loud" and "With Every Act of Love" showcase Jason's gifts as a songwriter. His last album, Where the Light Gets In, includes the standout songs “Glow in the Dark,” “Learning,” and “Sparrows." That album was one of my Top 10 Albums of 2016. Now, Jason has returned with his latest project, Order, the first of three five-song EPs releasing over the next year, addressing the themes of Order, Disorder, and Reorder.

If you like singer-songwriters who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Who sing about the truth of what it means to walk with God. Who work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Then don't miss out on one of Christian music's most treasured artists. 

Jason again invites listeners into his story of faith. Each song on Order features Jason's unique brand of gourmet lyrical phrasing, embedded with the truth of the Gospel for those "with ears to hear." I had the opportunity to interview Jason about his single “I’m Gonna Let it Go.”
Please tell me the personal story behind the song.

I knew that I wanted to have songs for each of these categories: order, disorder and reorder. I was asking myself how to write songs about order? I didn't want them to be boring, because there isn't a lot of drama in order. Originally, it was going to be a single album of twelve songs. I could just have one song about order, and have the rest of the songs focus on the journey. When we started to talk about releasing the album in three parts, I thought about what would be compelling topics about order. I didn't want songs that just said things were going well. I wanted the project to be wisdom songs. The wisdom you learn from difficulty. I heard a quote that “wisdom is healed pain.”
 
We've all gone through difficult things and come out more whole, wiser, kinder, and stronger. I wanted “I'm Gonna Let it Go” to be about the wisdom that comes from order. And I figured it out that today's order is yesterday's reorder. The song comes from what I've went through and how I've reordered it into my life. And it is now today's order. When we come to the limits of that wisdom, life presents surprises. These are fundamental ideas that you can build on for your wisdom.
 
“I'm Gonna Let it Go” is about learning how to live a surrendered life, not attaching to the things you can't control, which is kind of basic wisdom that you learn early on in life. But it's something that you have to keep returning to over and over again. The impulse to control is so strong. It's early wisdom that keeps getting updated. That's conceptually how this song ended up on Order. We only learn more and more of what order means when you go through reorder and disorder.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG): "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
 
Romans 8:14-15 (NKJV): "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV): "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

What is the takeaway message?

I think God is a gentleman. He'll never force Himself on us. And the first time I began to recognize that dynamic in my own life was—it says He'll be my provider. But if I insist on providing for myself, He won't stop me. He'll say, "All right, if that's how you wanna do it, you go head and knock yourself out." Then I'll get down that road, and I'm stressed and I'm aware of my bank statement every minute of every day, until I recognize that I'm doing it. This is not the way I wanna live. And, I'm like, "Okay, I'm sorry. I've done it again. I want to trust you." If I insist on being in control of managing my life, the Lord will allow me to do that. But the moment when I let go, He steps in and puts me on a different plan.
 
Lyrics:
It's hard for me to let go, hard for me to breathe
Thinking that I gotta control it all
I can feel my worry and anxiety
When it's slipping through my fingers and I know it
I've been losing my sleep, I've been losing my cool
I can feel my heart go boom, boom, boom
Starin' at the ceiling, feeling like a fool
I'm going under and I know it
 
But I hear You whisper to me
If I lose my grip I could see
That You are carrying me
 
Oh, I'm gonna let it, I'm gonna let it go
Oh, 'cause if I trusted, I could move with Your flow
Being carried in the current of Your love
When I lean into Your arms, You're enough
So, I'm gonna let it, I'm gonna let it go
 
Time for me to let go, time for me to breathe
Knowing that He already holds it all
Time for me to turn down this anxiety
I can know my freedom in a moment
'Cause when I lay it all down, You gonna lift me up
When I pour it all out You gonna fill my cup
You're holding out Your arms and telling me to jump
One, two, three, here I go, yeah
 
Letting go of my worries (Letting go of my worries)
For my need to control things (For my need to control things)
I'm gonna take You at Your word and (I'm gonna take You at Your word)
I'm gonna lay down all my burdens (All my burdens)
Letting go of my worries (Letting go of my worries)
For my need to control things (For my need to control things)
I'm gonna take You at Your word and
I'm gonna lay down all my burdens (All my burdens)

Closing Thoughts

“I'm Gonna Let It Go” touches me in many ways. I know that many of us struggle with the idea that our past and present mistakes are unforgivable, yet the Bible tells us that isn't true. Read that great translation in The Message of Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus tells us: “Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.” What an amazing comfort to know that when we struggle with our pain, pride and unloving natures, we can all lay it at the feet of Jesus. This is a great song to sing to our Lord and Savior as a personal prayer of thanks and praise.
 
As followers of Jesus, we know that we can trust God's Word. We are all a work in progress. Have faith and let God "work all things together for good." Spend time with God, and let Him redeem and restore you. 

We are not at the end of our story. God's still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in those who've put their hope and trust in Jesus for their salvation. So many believers still struggle with the idea that we have to prove ourselves worthy before God.
 
We all have insecurities in some way. God has wired us to need Him. Step into God's supernatural ability. Let His power help you overcome anxiety and fear. He desires us that from us, as His children. It's in our weakness that God is made strong. It's only through God's grace that we can overcome our emotional conflicts of feeling invisible and conspicuous at the same time. 

I'm in a similar life stage as Jason. And can relate to everything he shares and sings. I've struggled with perfectionism and people pleasing. This song opens up my eyes to the truth that those feelings are actually selfish and not God-honoring.

The Holy Spirit gives us new life. And we don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears or worries. We are born again and we need to live as children of God. Too often, we get wrapped up in our circumstances and get down on ourselves with negative thoughts, allowing the Enemy to define our self-worth. Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the battle of our minds. To set us free from sin and death. 

He wants us to have an abundant life in Him. What a wonderful, encouraging truth. The Good News of the Gospel, which this song portrays, is that God accepts us no matter what we've done or what we are going through. 

“I'm Gonna Let It Go” gives me more conviction to not feel worthless or afraid. With many areas in our lives, we spend a lot of time worrying. We need to let that go, and allow the Lord to be our redeemer.

We all have lies that we believe about ourselves. Also, we have an enemy who doesn't like us. He does have a voice and he does speak to us. But the voice of God's perfect love speaks louder. This song encourages us to see ourselves the way God sees us. What a great message of redemption: grace is unmerited favor, and it is a free gift. Remember that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

Be free from those doubts about yourself. And sing, “Oh, 'cause if I trusted, I could move with Your flow/Being carried in the current of Your love/When I lean into Your arms, You're enough/So, I'm gonna let it, I'm gonna let it go.” Amen to that.