Out of Gainesville, Florida, Lanae’ Hale, who developed her style by playing worship in church and trying out her songs in coffeehouses, is the latest addition at Centricity Records. Like a lot of young women, Lanae’ felt the enormous pressure of living up to our material world’s 21st century expectations and sometimes that pressure sweeps you into a dark corner. “I was into cutting and if not for the grace of God, I may not have made it through," Lanae' explains. "It’s hard to explain but sometimes you don’t like yourself and do bad things to yourself, such as cutting. If I can reach out to God and change, then others can as well. More than anything else, I would like to help young girls through my own music and my own testimony."

Knowing Lanae’s background and having 3 young daughters myself, I found this album and the message of redemption and God’s love bringing light and hope out of darkness, to be compelling. The title song, “Back & Forth,” from Lanae’s debut is all about that theme of redemption. The song is so catchy and personal, I can’t get enough of listening to Lanae’s testimony and amazing singing voice.

I got the great opportunity to speak with Lanae’ about the song. You can listen to our entire conversation here.

Please share some background information about writing the song?

I wrote the song first and then the Lord has shown me what the song means to me personally. I am from Florida and used to live by the ocean and since I’ve moved to Nashville, I’m landlocked. I miss the crashing waves of the ocean. I realize now that our lives are like the ocean. We have to step out in faith when we have waves of doubt.

Is the song based on any specific bible verses?

Yes, the song is based on the Gospel account of Jesus challenging the disciples to have faith in Luke 8:22-25.

Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

What does the song mean to you? What's the overall theme of album? Is there any takeaway message?

Spiritual warfare comes when we have waves of discouragement, depression and doubt. As Jesus tells us, we need to have faith and fix our eyes on Him. My husband and I were reading a book which talked about the “dark night of the soul”. Those times when we think we can’t hear God, we need to be still and listen, and most of all be faithful.

Here are the lyrics to "Back & Forth":

Well, it's easier to take
when it's easy not to break
But set the enemy on fire
and feel the flames grow higher and higher and higher

If I could, than I would run across the sea
So you'd speak to me

Back and forth, the waves keep crashing
Hold on, my head, I keep on sinking
I need your hand to steady me
to bring your peace to this storm
'cause back and forth
Yeah, oh, oh

Well, it's easy not to care,
when apathy poisons the air
Well, on the surface it seems calm
But underneath war rages on and on and on

If I could, than I would run across the sea
So you'd speak to me

Back and forth, the waves keep crashing
Hold on, my head, I keep on sinking
I need your hand to steady me
to bring your peace to this storm
'cause back and forth

You are rain falling hard on my shoulders,
I lift my head, and don't let go
Feel the tide growing high as I get older,
I lift my head and don't let go
Feel the waves rolling over and over,
I lift my head and I don't let go
'Cause you're my light when the dark gets colder,
So take my hand and don't let go
Don't let go-oh

If I could, than I would run across the sea
So you'd speak to me, So you'd speak to me

Back and forth, the waves keep crashing
Hold on, my head, I keep on sinking
I need your hand to steady me
to bring your peace to this storm
'cause back and forth

You are rain falling hard on my shoulders,
I lift my head, and don't let go
Feel the tide growing high as I get older,
I lift my head and don't let go
Feel the waves rolling over and over,
I lift my head and I don't let go
'Cause you're my light when the dark gets colder,
So take my hand and don't let go

It’s easy to let moments of silence in our lives make us think we can’t hear God. In those moments, the spiritual warfare that comes from self-doubt and discouragement is when the enemy is against us the most. This song brings me encouragement, especially the lyrics “'Cause you're my light when the dark gets colder, So take my hand and don't let go”. Reach out to Jesus and be willing to step out in faith and He won’t let go!

You can listen to the song here.