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." Their song was written for The Shack, "I'll Think About You," is the only one from the compilation that can be heard in its entirety in the film, featured in one of the most emotional moments of loss and catharsis.
We Are Messengers recently released their full-length sophomore album, Power (one of my top 10 albums of 2020). Every song on the album is a testimony to the grace and love of Jesus Christ and a creative musical expression. I had the chance to speak with the band’s lead vocalist Darren Mulligan about their catchy and encouraging new single, “Come What May.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
“Come What May” comes from a revival in my life and in the lives of my family. We came to America about seven years ago as missionaries to carry on the good news of Jesus. That’s why we’re called We Are Messengers.
Sometimes we can produce acts of godliness that lack the power of God. I’ve seen that in my own life, as well as in my walk with the Lord, where it has grown cold in certain seasons. The COVID-19 pandemic is a great example.
During the pandemic, the Lord stripped everything from me that I had leaned on instead of Him—I couldn’t play concerts or meet fans. Instead, I had to go back to my first love, Jesus. When I have Him, I have everything. When He holds me, I feel at rest and secure. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
For me, this song comes from the idea that Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, is steadfast, consistent, and unchanging. Because of that, no matter what happens in my life, I have nothing to fear or run from. It doesn’t matter if I’m rich, poor, sick, or healthy.
Psalm 23 ties in perfectly with this idea. When everything seems to be unraveling, Jesus’s message is simple: he’s our rest, shelter, and great shepherd for people like me who continuously go astray.
When we enter a personal relationship with Him, His wandering sheep come into His sheepfold. And, He provides what we can’t find from the world. Good words and achievement don’t matter. Come what may, Jesus is still the same. And, because of that, we can have enjoyment in being God’s children.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Psalm 23:4(VOICE): "Even in the unending shadows of death's darkness, I am not overcome by fear. Because You are with me in those dark moments, near with Your protection and guidance, I am comforted."
1 John 3:1(NLT): "See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know Him."
Philippians 4:6(VOICE): “Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.”
Hebrews 13:8(NKJV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Philippians 4:7(NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
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 8:28(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."
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."
What is the takeaway message?
“Come What May” declares that the character of God is unchanging regardless of our circumstances. In the past year, we’ve all collectively been forced to concede that, despite our illusions and devices, we do not get to control the world around us.
This is a song that not only acknowledges this reality, but revels in the fact that we have a God that loves us and is worthy of our faith, hope, and trust—no matter what circumstances we’re facing. It’s a celebration of freedom of not having to fabricate a false reality to ourselves and those around us and a declaration of the goodness of God.
Lyrics
Sometimes sorrow is the door to peace Sometimes heartache is the gift I need You’re faithful, faithful In all things
In every high, in every low
On mountaintops, down broken roads You’re still my rock, my hope remains I’ll rest in the arms of Jesus Come what may
There is deep joy that you give to me Where hurt meets the healing is a holy thing I see goodness, your goodness In all things
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want He makes me lie down in green pastures The Lord is my shepherd, leads me to still waters And He restores my soul
Closing Thoughts
This is a great message and song for us to celebrate our freedom based on our faith in Christ Jesus. The song has a very catchy and worshipful musical style with holy energy and vitality pulsing through every word. "Come What May" is also an amazing reminder of how we’re 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."
King David was a shepherd, and he knew that the Lord was his only guide and hope, the good shepherd of his soul, in writing Psalm 23. This song is about submitting to God all your worries, anxieties, and stress. It’s about letting God be your guide. He wants to walk beside you. And, He wants you to be bold and unafraid.
“Come What May” is a daily prayer, asking God to come and change our hearts and lives. Change in such a way that our behavior and our lifestyle flow from God, living inside His believers. Only Jesus can give us our identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us.
This song gives me more conviction to not feel worthless or afraid. With many areas in my life, I spend a lot of time worrying. I need to let that go and let the Lord be my redeemer. I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I’m strengthened with the truth that fear, worry, and anxiety is not God's plan for our lives.
As followers of Jesus, we know that we can trust God's Word. I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter our circumstances.
So many people struggle to apply God's Word to their lives. If we learn to build our lives on scripture, we would all have a rock as our foundation, in how we navigate our lives. The Good News of the Gospel, which this song perfectly portrays, is that God accepts us—no matter what we've done or what we’re going through.
God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us. That's reason to sing this song at the top of your lungs in gratefulness to Him: “In every high, in every low/On mountain tops/down broken roads/You’re still my rock, my hope remains/I’ll rest in the arms of Jesus/Come what may.” 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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