Former Make-A-Wish child and cancer survivor Paige Armstrong released her first project, Wake Up on October 6th in hopes of inspiring listener’s to find their purpose. The 19 year-old’s journey to this point in her career is unlike most artists. Armstrong was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11 and endured an extensive stay in the hospital. She was linked to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and traveled to Nashville to make a Christian album as a part of her wish. Her early music also found its way onto the Bath & Body Works Holiday album in 2005 alongside such notables as Martina McBride. She appeared on programs such as Today and Extra sharing her story and the new Christmas music.

Now cancer free, Armstrong has dedicated her life to reaching teens and young adults to find their own story and not waste their life.

“Ever since my battle with cancer, God has shaken me to realize how truly precious life is,” says Armstrong. “After being in the hospital and seeing so many people who were daily fighting for their lives, the greatest tragedy to me is seeing so many that have this precious life, simply blowing theirs! My new album is all about each one of us waking up to our incredible value and the unbelievable purpose that God has for us. Ultimately, it comes down to this: My purpose is to help others find theirs.”

I got the chance to interview Paige about “Unbreak Me." You can listen to my entire interview here.

Please tell me the story behind writing this song?

It’s a personal heart song. I wrote it a few years ago when I was having an intimate time of worship with the Lord. I was sitting at my piano and I was obviously broken, but I was thinking about how I had forsaken my first love. I was thinking about how I was giving my time to idols instead of to God. So the song is about being broken, and feeling unworthy but knowing God wants me to turn my heart back to Him.

Were there any verses that you used to write the song?

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

What do you consider to be the takeaway message for listeners?

This song is about failing, falling down and making the wrong choices. What I have found during my face on the floor times is that God is always there. God isn’t ashamed to see me through those moments. He erases my poor choices and restores me. This song is about the vulnerable side of things and the honest realization that I don’t have everything together. I have doubts and my heart wants to run off to somewhere God doesn’t want me. The song is about letting God restore me and pick up the broken pieces of the mess that I’ve made.

Here are the lyrics:

V1:
I’m so broken down,
I’ve done it again and it won’t be long
Til I’m caught with my defenses down,
It seems I’m not always that strong.
I’m afraid that I’m stained and what’s done will remain.
You see, I’ve fallen and I’m calling out for help.

C:
Here I am
I need you to save me
I need you to lift me from the ground
My heart is dying to be found
All I am
Is desperately searching
Endlessly thirsting
For your love
Would you erase the things I’ve done
and unbreak me

V2:
Watching the dust collect on my cold and lonely heart
If only I knew what I’d loose at the start
Cause these memories, take control of me
While I’m letting life slip by
Things have to change, this could be a new day.

B:
And it’s our broken pieces that you take and restore
When we learn to trust, you do immeasurably more.

Paige has a great story, yes because she is a cancer survivor and understands the true meaning of being broken, and also because she has a zeal to live her life for God. Her prayer to God to be unbroken and to be forgiven and restored is also my prayer. I am very moved by this song and by the message of this song and the promise in 1st Peter 5:10 that after we suffer a while Christ Jesus will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. What a great promise and when you feel broken, you can pray for God to ‘unbreak you’ and He will heal and restore you. Paige’s story is all about her being unbroken.

You can listen to the song here.