Worship leader and speaker Tasha Layton has had a long and exhilarating journey to discovering her artistry. Her path to the present has been a mix of hardship, excitement, pain, and wonder. She began in a small town, then worked as an in-demand session singer in L.A. while touring with Katy Perry. Eventually, Tasha moved to Nashville and recorded her debut Christian album, Love Running Wild, in 2019. She then released Into the Sea, preceded by the stirring title track “Into the Sea (It’s Gonna Be Ok).” She continued with her hit songs, including “How Far.” Tasha's story is vibrant and strong, just like the singer herself.
Tasha released her full-length album, How Far. The album provides an intimate worship experience with an inspirational and uplifting tone. It tells the story of redemption and emphasizes the importance of relying on God’s plans, which are higher than ours. Each song in the album reflects Tasha's Psalm-like prayers offered to God. With engaging music and thought-provoking lyrics, Tasha's album is a treasure to savor. During our conversation, Tasha spoke about her latest single, "Never.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
"Never" declares God's unwavering loyalty despite our doubt and fear. This song serves as a prayer for those moments when the enemy tries to make us feel like we are entirely alone. We must remember that even if the whole world leaves us to fend for ourselves, we still have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When we ask Him if He will ever leave us, we can always know His answer.
Life comes with many highs and lows, and God will walk us through them all. Every scar and every hurt we experience will be used for good. When our tears and knees both hit the ground, and we’re feeling the weight of life, sometimes we’re tempted to think God has forgotten us. We ask, “Has He forgotten the desire of my heart? God, I see You working in other people’s lives, but what about mine?”
When I hit rock bottom, I realized that only Jesus could offer true peace and the power to transform me.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Deuteronomy 31:6(NKJV): "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Philippians 1:6(NIV): "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:13(NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
1 John 4:18(NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but, perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But, he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
Psalm 71:1-3(NIV): “In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue and deliver me in Your righteousness; turn Your ear to me and save me. Be my Rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my Rock and Fortress.”
1 John 4:18-19(NKJV): "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us."
John 10:10(ESV): "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 16:33(NIV): "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Philippians 4:7(NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
What is the takeaway message?
When our tears and knees both hit the ground, and we're feeling the weight of life, sometimes we're tempted to think God has forgotten us. I pray that this song serves as a reminder that you are never forgotten, forsaken, or abandoned. That God is close to you at this exact moment. No matter your challenges, the time and effort you invest in overcoming them will always be worth it. While we may not always see or feel Him beside us, we must remember to trust God rather than our fickle feelings.
Throughout my music ministry, I have continually trusted God’s timing rather than my own. Through the waiting, miracles happen. I think there are seasons for songs, and timing is essential. God is good like that. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lyrics
When this broken world is breaking me down When my tears and knees both fall to the ground When my questions make me doubt You more than ever You remind me that Your answer is always “never…”
Never forgotten Never forsaken Never abandoned Not for a second I am safe in Your hands Always and forever You’re never not working My heart is the proof There’s not a broken too broken for You Will there ever come a day when You’re not holding me together? You say “never”
Every single time I look back, I see There’s never been a promise You didn’t keep You don’t waste the wounds; You use them for the better When it comes to You, Your answer’s always "never."
You never let me down No, You never let me down When did You ever let me down? Never, No Never
You never let me down No, You never let me down When did You ever let me down? Never
You say “never” You say “never”
You never let me down When did you ever let me down? Oh, never Never!
Closing Thoughts
“Never” is a daily prayer asking God to come and change our hearts and lives so that our behavior and the way we live flow from God living inside us. Only Jesus can give us our identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us. He’s all we need.
This life song challenges us to step out in faith and trust God—even when we want to give up or can't see where we're going. Remember, we aren't the power source to overcome life’s challenges. There is a higher power in God that provides true strength and energy. In our weakness, God's strength is perfect.
This song represents our victory over our battles—even before we know the earthly outcome. So, trust that God is going before us and wins. If we think about the type of faith we’re called to have as believers, it’s described as the faith of a mustard seed.
When I read the Bible, I’m strengthened with the truth that fear, worry, and anxiety are not God's plans for my life. So, trust God's Word. Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter the circumstances. Our thoughts are constantly under attack by the enemy.
This song is a great way to submit to God and commit to Him. The Bible says to trust what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. God knows us intimately. And, because Jesus died for us on the cross, God sees us as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, fully understood, and forgiven—no matter what we've done. If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from His love.
I hear a sincere yearning for God and thankfulness in Tasha's vocals for God's mercy and grace. As followers of Jesus, one of the most significant ways we can demonstrate the upside-down Kingdom of God to non-believers is by living out the words of this song. Having supernatural inner joy shows observers that we have the hope and joy of God's love and are living out His plans for us—even when we are walking through difficult times. We mustn't forsake Him and instead continue to trust in Him.
God doesn't promise to spare us from pain, but we must trust Him. We must trust Him and wait on Him. Please wait for Him to make the plans for our lives. We have nothing to bring to God. We expect something in return instead of recognizing that nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Jesus.
Faith is when we are empty of ourselves and filled with Him and His Holy Spirit. Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires us to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to trust God with our lives fully.
I love singing this song back to Jesus and telling Him plainly that I need no other than Him. The strong lyrics convict me, and I find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth.
We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength because we know that whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28, "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." This is a truth for believers to cling to. We should wash ourselves daily with the truth of the Word of God rather than merely hoping it is true or turning to the Lord as a last resort.
Tasha hopes to pass on the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. We sometimes put up a wall between us and God, and He wants us to come home to Him. Sing along: “You’re never not working/My heart is the proof/There’s not a broken too broken for You/Will there ever come a day when You’re not holding me together?/You say 'never.'" Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid 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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