JJ Heller's trademark ability to be transparent and vulnerable resonates throughout her spectacular album Sound of a Living Heart, featuring the songs, "This Year (Happy New Year)" and "The Well." Overall, it's JJ’s best album. Each one of JJ’s new songs will make you want to sing. The artist has released a string of singles including, “God is Still Here,” “A Mother Like You,” and “Missing Peace.” They're all in the vein of her standout songs, "Your Hands," "What Love Really Means," and "Who You Are."
Each song serves as a reminder to never let go of hope, as well as to step out of fear and into trust despite life's present struggles. This is the message in JJ's latest single, “You Already Know.” What's especially special about this song is how JJ invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart, while reflecting on life and faith issues. I had the chance to speak with JJ and her husband, Dave Heller, about “You Already Know,” our thirteenth Behind the Song discussion.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
JJ: Recently, I was feeling in need of encouragement. I don’t know how you are handling this pandemic. But, I’ve had ups and downs: sometimes I’m feeling great and positive, and sometimes I’m feeling down and negative. I’ve also been overwhelmed, scared, and anxious.
I was in one of those moods, feeling the weight of worry. I heard my friend was leading worship online for her church. So, I tuned in to watch her lead worship. It was wonderful. That led to the message for that evening by Pastor Scott Erickson. He talked about “The Lord’s Prayer.”
His message really fascinated me. At times, in the middle of all this, I don’t know what to pray. He pointed out that in Matthew 6:8, before we pray, God knows what we need even before we ask Him. When we don’t know what to pray, we can pray, “God, You already know.” These words really struck a chord in me; It was so comforting.
The hardest part for me about this craziness is all the unknowns. There’s no way to know how many people will get sick. And, there’s no date on the calendar when we know this pandemic will be behind us. Not to mention when and if our lives will get back to normal.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Matthew 6:8(NKJV): “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Psalm 91:1-2(NKJV): "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Psalm 46:1(NIV): "The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble."
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Psalm 139:17-18(NKJV): "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."
Ecclesiastes 1:9(VOICE): “What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun; the future only repeats the past."
Lamentations 3:22-23(NKJV): “Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Romans 8:18(NKJV): "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Romans 8:28(VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."
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."
What is the takeaway message?
JJ: We don’t have answers. But, we have a God who does. And He loves us beyond all reason. We wrote this song with songwriter Leslie Jordan. We hope it brings you comfort when you feel unsettled. When you don’t have words, maybe you can use this song as a prayer. God promises that He will be us.
Dave: As we’ve been creating music for over 17 years full-time, and we’ve been attempting to find our mission in creating music, there was a season early on about trying to impress our audience and trying to make a statement about ourselves. I think what we’ve been striving to do more and more in the last few years is to provide words for our audience that they’ve wanted to express and formulate themselves. We’ve been writing songs that are about expressing our thoughts that haven’t been defined. C.S. Lewis has a statement in his book “Mere Christianity” where he quotes, “most of the time we need to be reminded rather than taught.” That’s been our mission as well, to remind people of what they’ve already been taught that they know are true. That’s the essence of this song.
Lyrics
Everything around me seems uncertain
My weary heart can't take much more surprise
I wish there was a point on the horizon
Something I could see with my own eyes
I need to tell you that I'm scared
I feel completely unprepared
And nothing's what it was two weeks ago But You already know
You already know
Everything I'm scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know I can't seem to find the easy answers
Someday I hope the suffering makes sense
I just need to know that you are with me
Even if you keep me in suspense
And we talk so much these days
Because I have so much to say
You stay and listen to me closely even though But You already know
You already know
Everything I'm scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know Whatever I'm feeling
Whatever is coming
Whenever the ending
You're already there
You go before me
You go behind me
Wherever I'm going
You're already there But You already know
You already know
Everything I'm scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know
You already know
Closing Thoughts
God’s mercies are new every morning. This song is a faith statement. Righteousness was accredited to Abraham for his faith. We need to have the faith that the Bible describes in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." When you sing this great song, think of Jesus saying, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Have faith, don't be afraid and know that with Jesus, you will never be alone.
Christians are new creations on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us a 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 and allow the enemy to define self-worth. Jesus died on the Cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death. He wants us to have abundant life in Him. As the song goes, “You go behind me/Wherever I'm going/You're already there.”
What a comfort as we all face the unknown and this unseen coronavirus pandemic. God knows what is going to happen and He is with us. Rather than wallow in self-pity and misery, we need to live each day knowing that despite circumstances, God has a plan for "those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose," as noted in Romans 8:28. This song is a beautiful prayer to our king and savior.
There is great comfort in knowing Jesus and being known by Him in every detail of our lives. 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 He's started in all of us who've put their hope and trust in Jesus for salvation. The Lamentations 3:22-23 passage and this song challenges me to want to know God more deeply and have more faith and security in my relationship with God. The song is about crying out for God's presence and desiring to know Him personally. Let's strive to know God, and He will come to us.
We have the privilege to know Him. And if you are a follower of Jesus, He lives in you and has made you His home. What's awesome about this poignant song is that it provides encouragement and personal motivation to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race of life strong and to resolve to know in our hearts: “But You already know/You already know/Everything I'm scared of/Everything I hope/You hold my tomorrow/And all tomorrow holds/You already know.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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