If you have the opportunity, don't miss the chance to see Ireland's We Are Messengers and their energetic and worshipful set, including "Everything Comes Alive," "Point to You," "Magnify," and the worshipful, "I Don't Have the Answers." "I'll Think About You," written for The Shack, is the only song from the compilation that can be heard in its entirety in the film.
 
Their newer hits, "Maybe it's Ok," "Power," and "Love" can be found on the band's recent full-length sophomore album, Power. Every song on the album is a creative musical expression, a testimony to the grace and love of Jesus Christ. I had the chance to speak with We Are Messengers' lead singer Darren Mulligan about the band's celebratory single, "Love."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

In terms of how the song came to be, this record has been fun to make, because we've been able to write all the songs together as a band, for the most part. We've been able to co-produce the album, and sonically take the album wherever we've wanted to. It's been a labor of love. We're thankful that we have a team around us that trusted us to do that. 

"Love" was the very last song we wrote for Power. The album was done. I was walking back to my hotel room after a show one night. And, I was feeling lonely and listless, and kind of lost. I felt like my life was running around in circles. Chasing success and happiness was leaving me feeling empty. Walking home, I had this little four-chord piano melody in my head. And, it sparked a conversation between me and God.

Talking with God, I was praying about how I couldn't enjoy the beautiful things in my life, because I was always looking for what's next; I was always anxious and always worried. I literally looked up to the pitch-black sky talking to God. And, what He said to me was, "Don't hang your head when you get lonely. I'll never leave your side. And, don't go thinking you're the only one that can't get it right. You've got My love." The next day, we went to a church where we're playing a show that night. We sat in a preschool room with pictures of Noah's Ark on the walls. There, we cut the vocals for the song.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Zephaniah 3:17 (VOICE): "The Eternal your God is standing right here among you, and He is the champion who will rescue you. He will joyfully celebrate over you; He will rest in His love for you; He will joyfully sing because of you like a new husband."

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."

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV): "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

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."
 
Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV): "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
 
Ephesians 2:6 (NIV): "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
 
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT): "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

What is the takeaway message?

It's a hopeful song. Musically and sonically, we wanted it to be so joyful. We wanted it to be a song that makes people want to dance when they hear it, when they are feeling anxious, alone, and frustrated. So, we brought in a horn section. 

In a world that is constantly changing, where we are tired and weary, I find all my refuge in the steadfast unchanging love of God, and in the promise that His love will never leave us. It's based on the Romans 8:38-39 passage that says God will never leave us or forsake us. At the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus says He will be with us always--even to the end of the age. For me, it's less of a love song to the Lord, and more the Lord comforting somebody, like me, with His love, tenderness, and mercy. At the end of the day, there's no substitute for the Gospel and scripture. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God. I heard the Lord singing His Word over me, thus carrying all my anxiety away. 

When we get to the bridge of the song, we sing "Your mercy is new every morning." We're literally singing scripture back to Him. We're reminding ourselves that His mercy is new every morning, because we need it. Also, it's His beautiful kindness that carries us through. It's a conversational song with God. He is with us. We just need to dance in His love. Rest in the love of God.

Lyrics

Yeah, everybody hurts sometimes
I know that's what they say
But right now it seems
This loneliness won't go away
Can anybody feel this heartache
Is anyone around

Feels like we're running 'round in circles
We can't catch a breath
We can't always enjoy the moment
When we always want what's next
Just when I can't take no more
It's when I hear You say

Don't hang your head when you get lonely
No, I'll never leave your side
And don't go thinking you're the only
One that can't get it right
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love, love
Down in your soul
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love
And I won't let you go

I know there's nowhere I can run
There's nowhere I can hide
From the One who gave His life
So I could get back mine
So when you can't take no more
Look up and hear Him say

Don't hang your head when you get lonely
No, I'll never leave your side
And don't go thinking you're the only
One that can't get it right
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love, love
Down in your soul
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love
And I won't let you go

Your mercy is new every morning
Your grace sustains all of my life
You are the One that I run to
In You I am satisfied

Your mercy is new every morning
Your grace sustains all of my life
You are the one that I run to
In You I am satisfied

Don't hang your head when you get lonely
No, I'll never leave your side
And don't go thinking you're the only
One that can't get it right
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love, love
Down in your soul
Yeah, you got My love
Love, love
And I won't let you go

Closing Thoughts

The thought that God rejoices over us with singing is humbling. He is worthy of all our praise and devotion. In his devotional book, Glory Revealed, David Nasser says: "Every song we sing to the Lord is a duet and not a solo. The most marvelous thing about a relationship with God is that it is truly a dialogue. We aren't just sitting here on Earth worshipping a Creator who simply soaks us our love, rather He's so involved in our affection, He's in the midst of it."
 
Remember this scripture passage: "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT) God wants us to boldly approach the throne of mercy and grace to receive and obtain what we need from Him. When we acknowledge our identity in Christ through this song, our burdens are removed. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:12-13: "Having no hope and without God in the world. But, now in Christ Jesus you, who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
 
This is a great message and song for us to celebrate our freedom, based on our faith in Christ Jesus. "Love" has a very catchy and worshipful music style with a holy energy and vitality pulsing through every word. The song is an amazing reminder of how we are called to be a light for Jesus, every day, "without complaining or arguing." As Darren and I discussed this song and its profound message, we talked about how we're 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."
 
As believers, we can all benefit by praying daily to God. So, remember, don't hang your head when you get lonely. You've got His love in your soul. In "Love," God is singing over us and, as worshipers, we can respond: "His Mercy is new every morning." We need to put on God's love like we put on our clothing and allow His love to shine through us. Amen to that.