Leanna Crawford is a rising pop artist who has caught the attention of many artists and labels in the music industry. Her sound has captivated GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning artist Matthew West, who has been working with her in an artist development capacity.
She’s also the first female artist to sign with Matthew’s Story House Collective music label. In 2020, Leanna released her self-titled EP, which includes hit songs like "Truth I'm Standing On," "Photoshop," and "Mean Girls." I’ve featured these songs in my Behind the Song devotional series, inspiring me and my family.
With her infectious and upbeat musical style, Leanna layers her strong and distinguished vocals over catchy melodies that stay with the listener long after the music stops. She’s emerged as one of the top new female vocalists in Christian music.
Her EP is ideal for anyone struggling with fear and self-doubt, as it ministers to the soul with its powerful and passionate songs. The well-produced musical arrangements perfectly complement Leanna's excellent singing voice.
Leanna's music has been compared to contemporaries like Colbie Caillat and Britt Nicole, and it's easy to see why. Her songwriting is genuine, positive, and vulnerable, and her upbeat songs celebrate the freedom in Christ.
She’s a superb role model for young girls, and her biblically inspired lyrics reflect the true happiness and identity that comes from a relationship with God. I had the privilege of speaking with Leanna about her song "How Can You Not." Hearing her passion and commitment to sharing her faith through music was a joy.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
The inspiration for this song came from a moment I shared with my dad. He had never seen fireflies before, as they don't exist in the Pacific Northwest, where we're from. While my parents were visiting me in Nashville, we were out for a walk in the rain, as we're accustomed to the rain in our home state of Washington. When the rain slowed, the field next to us suddenly lit up like the night sky with thousands of fireflies.
As we stood there, my dad marveled at the sight and said, “How can you not see the Creator?” It was a powerful reminder that God's handiwork is all around us and that He cares for us deeply. Even in the simple beauty of a field of fireflies, we can see how much He loves us.
This moment inspired me to write a song that celebrates the wonder of God's creation and His love for us. I hope that when people hear this song, they are reminded of how much God loves them and that they see His hand in everything around them.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 15:13(NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Psalm 19:1-4 (NKJV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, ad their words to the end of the world."
Philippians 4:6-7(NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 145:10-12(VOICE): "All creation will stand in awe of You, O Eternal One. Thanks will pour from the mouths of every one of Your creatures; Your holy people will bless You. They will not be silent; they will talk of the grandeur of Your kingdom and celebrate the wonder of Your power. Until everyone on earth who has ears to hear knows Your valiant acts and the splendor of Your kingdom."
2 Corinthians 13:3(VOICE): “You asked to see evidence that the power of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, is at work in me. Well, you will see it because He won’t be weak in dealing with you. Instead, He will do great things in you.”
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.”
John 3:11(VOICE): “I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness.”
Hebrews 11:1(NKJV): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:8(VOICE): "By faith Abraham heard God's call to travel to a place he would one day receive as an inheritance; and he obeyed, not knowing where God's call would take him."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV): "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."
Proverbs 3:5-6(NKJV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Acts 2:28(VOICE): "Instead, You direct me on a path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment."
What is the takeaway message?
I wrote "How Can You Not" without the intention of it being a popular radio hit. As an artist, I want to write about where I feel God is leading me. Sometimes, a song is personal and other times, it has the potential to impact a wider audience. My focus is shifting from creating catchy melodies to conveying a message that speaks to my heart.
The song emphasizes how God shows His love for us. During tough and wonderful seasons over the past few years, I've realized that God has been my constant support. How can I not see God through all these moments?
Lyrics
I see the sun rise in the morning And a million stars at night I hear the birds, they can't stop singing hallelujah I see His goodness when I fall down And it's grace that picks me up Every day, I can't stop singing hallelujah How can you not see God In every little thing, in every little moment? How can you not feel loved? How can you not? How can you not? 'Cause He's in the middle of Every little thing and every little moment How can you not see God? How can you not? How can you not? I see the sunset, and I wonder If He paints it just for me Nobody else could make a world so beautiful How could I question His love when it's everywhere I go? Wherever I look, I find another miracle How can you not see God In every little thing, in every little moment? How can you not feel loved? How can you not? How can you not? 'Cause He's in the middle of Every little thing and every little moment How can you not see God? How can you not? How can you not? Everything is evidence (ooh-ooh) Showing me that You exist (oh-oh) All creation singing hallelujah Everything is evidence (oh, everything) Showing me that You exist (He's God) All creation singing hallelujah How can you not see God In every little thing, in every little moment? How can you not feel loved? Hmm-mm 'Cause He's in the middle of Every little thing and every little moment How can you not see God? How can you not? How can you not? Oh, how can you not see God (everything is evidence) In every little thing, in every little moment? (Showing me that You exist) How can you not feel loved? (All creation singing) How can you not? How can you not? (Hallelujah) 'Cause He's in the middle of (everything is evidence) Every little thing and every little moment (showing me that You exist) How can you not see God? (All creation singing) How can you not? How can you not?
Closing Thoughts
Living in the present can be overwhelming because we don't know what the future will be like. In our busy world, we want to find meaning and purpose. But we can feel better by reading Philippians 3:8: "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things."
I find comfort in reflecting on and singing a "How Can You Not" to God. As part of my daily devotion to growing in my walk with Jesus, I try to sing at least one praise song to Him daily. I encourage others to spend time with Him as well.
The song is about believers on a faith journey, like Abraham and Sarah. Leanna travels to different places, following God's guidance without knowing her next destination. Abraham was a "friend of God" who let his nephew Lot choose their path based on what he saw.
In the Bible, Abraham chose to rely on faith instead of what he could physically see, and this act of faith was credited to him as righteousness by God. As Christians, we strive to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting in the unseen. This type of faith allows us to deepen our trust in God and grow our relationship with Him.
And when we share our testimony with others, the evidence of a changed life can serve as a powerful argument for the existence and goodness of God. If others see the positive transformation in us—our redemption, forgiveness, and freedom from guilt and shame—it can help them to see God in a new light.
When you abide in His grace, you won’t be the same. His grace takes away anxiety, guilt, and shame. Know that being His is enough. Daily we are presented with the choices of how to use our time, lifestyle choices, the pursuit of riches, living for today not knowing what tomorrow has in store for us, and questioning our loneliness and looking for meaning. The song's lyrics say that you can always have assurance in your heart no matter the season or emotions you're feeling, “Everything is evidence/Showing me that You exist/All creation singing hallelujah.”
As a Christian, I think God talks to us in different ways. I feel connected to Him when I pray and think—especially when I listen to songs of praise like "How Can You Not." This song reminds us that God is in every little thing and moment of our lives. We can confidently say that we see God everywhere and feel loved by Him.
As the lyrics proclaim, “How can you not see God/In every little thing, in every little moment? How can you not feel loved? 'Cause He's in the middle of/Every little thing and every little moment/How can you not see God? How can you not?” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid music collector. He 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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