Jessa Anderson has a long list of things she loves: her adorable daughter Lorelei (whose name was inspired by a “Gilmore Girls” character), Nashville, songwriting, traveling, honest conversations and missions. Equally as much, she has a list of things she dislikes: playing sports, going anywhere without her family by her side, glossing over serious issues, bad days, and things out of her control. Her lists look a lot like yours and mine. The fact that she happens to be a brand-new artist on BEC Recordings is simply icing on the cake.

Her second independent release fell into the hands of someone at BEC Recordings and soon evolved into her label debut, Not Myself Anymore. Drawing from an influential pool of strong female songwriters such as Sara Groves, Nichole Nordeman and Ginny Owens, Anderson’s music reflects a constant wrestling with the unknown and the darkest parts of humanity right alongside the gritty, everyday things that make up the human life.

“I always gravitated toward women who were writing their own music and just that honesty. That’s what I like to listen to, and hopefully that’s what I’m communicating when I’m writing songs, too,” she shares. I had the great opportunity to interview Jessa about her single “Fireflies.”

Please tell me the background story behind writing the song “Fireflies.” What does the message of the song mean to you personally?

I am the kind of person anyway who gets excited about little things in life, especially something sparkly that gets your attention. Fireflies are one of those things. I remember being fascinated by them when I was a little girl and wondering how they glowed. It was really amazing and when you grow up, you learn more about God’s creation and how intricate it is. I’ve never lost that childlike feeling when I see fireflies light up in a field. There’s no doubt that God created fireflies. He intentionally created something so unique.

As a songwriter who wants to be an artist and creative, it is so inspiring to see God’s creation. He is the ultimate Creator; He is where our creative desire comes from. I wanted to write a happy song, as many of my songs are more reflective and are about struggles I’ve been through. I think it’s important to celebrate those fun moments we have as Christians when we notice great things happening all around us. I also wanted to celebrate the beauty of who God is as our Creator. As awesome as His creation of mountains and lakes and oceans and the beauty we experience on earth is, Heaven is going to be even more amazing. What we experience here is just a fragment of what is coming. There is still so much we don’t get about God. When those types of things happen, you feel like God sent that moment just for you. Hopefully the song communicates that joy of knowing God and also what you don’t know about Him.

Did you base the song on any Bible verses or do you have a life verse?

My life verse is Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

What is the takeaway message for listeners about the song?

As a songwriter, I’ve always loved the description of God as the author of my faith. It strikes me as an interesting way of describing God. I love that God so purposefully writes our faith on our hearts. All of our creativity is written by Him. We just get to be a part of God’s plan. He is the finisher of our faith, and is working on all of us. Having a childlike faith is what we’re called to have in Scripture.

In our culture intelligence is lauded and how we can explain our faith, theologically, is strived for. Although it’s important to explain your faith, that can be intimidating. Being a child of God is about being giddy and excited about Him. I want to share even the deepest moments in my life so they know they aren’t alone during those sad and stressful moments. I also want to celebrate the little things in life. I have a hard time looking at the world and not seeing God’s fingerprints and His Creation. People struggling with doubts may wonder how much God loves them. If God cares enough about trees and birds and something as little as a firefly, he surely cares about us in such a deep way. God is so intentional about every life He creates. As a new mother, my daughter is almost one and I see so much personality in her. We can look around and if we’re willing we’ll see that everything in our lives reflects the light of God. Hopefully people can be encouraged in some way.

Lyrics:
You illuminate the open air
I am silently catching every glimmer I can
Cause I know that when the lightning hits
I'll be standing here breathless in the wake of each glimpse

Your beauty radiates
It's filling the sky
You're breaking through the darkness
I'm like a child
Standing in amazement
Here in the night
You shine brighter than fireflies
Caught up in the mystery
I can't deny

Everything around me
Reflects Your light
You shine brighter than fireflies
I'm surrounded by Your brilliant glow
And I marvel in wonder at the sight
I behold I am running with an empty jar
Want to capture it all I'm chasing after Your heart

Your love is infinite
It's filling the sky
Now that I've seen who You are
You're all that I want
I can't turn away
Now that I've seen who You are

Asbury’s commentary: “The race of faith begins and ends with Jesus. Jesus pioneered the way to begin with. As God's 'author,' He blazed the path of the perfection of faith through the sufferings of this life. He defined the way; He set the pace. The challenge is ours now to follow and not to shrink back. Jesus perfected the way once for all. As God's 'perfecter,' He persevered in perfect faith, and He endured to the end without once shrinking back in sin, enduring even the Cross. In faith He fixed his gaze on the joy of glory set before Him. God will bring us to enjoy that divine perfectness as well, provided we do not shrink back when the test comes. From start to finish, our eyes must remain fixed on Jesus lest we get off track and lose out.”

If you like Bethany Dillon, Sara Groves and Audrey Assad, you probably like female singers who have an enjoyable, sweet vocal style and make catchy, worshipful songs that make you think. Not Myself Anymore by Jessa Anderson is one of the most captivating albums I've ever heard and is one of my top albums of the year. "Fireflies" is a hit song in any format, which has great biblical truth and profound lyrics in the second verse professing God's brilliance: "Everything around me reflects Your light; You shine brighter than fireflies. I'm surrounded by Your brilliant glow, and I marvel in wonder at the sight I behold. I am running with an empty jar, want to capture it all, I'm chasing after Your heart."

I recently went camping with my wife and my three young daughters. I was sitting beside the campfire with my youngest daughter, Bethany, and she kept asking me to see if there were any fireflies. Bethany is only five years old and she has that childlike faith God challenges us to have. As a father of three young girls, I need to point my girls to their Heavenly Father, God. There’s a lot more we can accomplish together by leaning into God as opposed to trying to solve life’s challenges on our own. Life is messy and “Fireflies” is a great song celebrating the joy of God’s Creation. Amen.