Rush of Fools made quite an impression with two albums in less than two years, including their impressive self-titled debut, which included the stand-out songs "Undo", "When Our Hearts Sing" and "Peace Be Still." The band was nominated for Best New Artist of 2007 and "Undo" was nominated for Song of the Year. A year later they returned with the equally impressive album Wonder of the World which included the hit songs "Escape", "Lose It All" and "Never Far Away." The band was riding a seemingly unstoppable wave of momentum.

But just as things began to peak, the band was forced into hiatus by business matters surrounding their label which were outside of their control. Over the course of the last two years, the boys in Rush Of Fools experienced the greatest valley of their lives as they waited for resolution. With their futures hanging in the balance, they were forced to look deep inside to discover their true character, both as artists and as human beings.

Produced by renowned mainstream producer, Dennis Herring and one of Christian music’s highly respected producers, Rusty Varenkamp, this new offering We Once Were brings from Rush of Fools the most creative project of their career with twelve new songs co-written by the band’s ASCAP Song of the Year award-winning songwriters.

With stellar production, the band’s immense talent and continued strong support from fans and Christian radio, Rush Of Fools is once again finding themselves rapidly climbing the charts with their first single from the new album, "Grace Found Me." I had the great opportunity to interview Rush of Fools' lead singer Wes Willis about catchy single “Grace Found Me.”

Please tell me the story behind writing the song “Grace Found Me.”

This is the first song we wrote together entirely as a band. For the first two albums, Kevin wrote the majority of the lyrics. We always work on the music together. The first couple of years together as a band went great with no real problems. Three years ago, our trailer was stolen. Our original guitar player had to leave the band. Our drummer's mom got cancer. Right after our second album came out, our label went out of business less than two months after our album released. To the consumer and radio marketplace, it probably appeared that we left the scene entirely. It wasn't our choice, but our label was not around to support our album at all. We were still out touring, and we had fan support but people weren't able find the album. There was a six- to eight-month timeframe when people couldn't buy the physical album anywhere. We had to get free and clear of that former label to move on.

Kevin and I had a writing session with Michael Farren with Pocket Full of Rocks and he helped us move forward. That process consumed all of last year. We were very distraught and worried during that time. The Lord walked us through that trial and in the middle of that process we wrote the new album.

"Grace Found Me" was the song that immediately came out of that time. Our whole theme as a band is that we sing about grace and it resonates with all of us. Even in the middle of the most difficult time as a band, God was showing grace to us. We were still getting the chance to have concerts and ultimately He blessed us with the chance to record new songs.

Did you base the song on any Bible verse?

James has been our Book of the Bible as a band. This song and the whole album is based on James 1:2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Do you have any personal application regarding your walk as a Christian in writing the song and what's the takeaway message?

The opening lyrics--"I never thought that I would amount to anything at all"--came right out of the moments where we weren't sure if we would ever get to record new music again. Oftentimes we believe when we're pursuing our purpose and the calling that God has placed on our lives, we question whether we're going to be good at anything at all in this life.

The next lyrics--"I get the things have changed, Yet I still feel the same, But I’m not alone"--continue that theme where we need to remember that as a believer you'll still have trials in your life. You know you've been saved, but you still struggle. We want to encourage people that the Christian walk is not going to be rainbows and butterflies all the time. He takes us through trials to help us turn to Him and He wants us to grow closer to Him. We were just in this very dark valley and now that we're out of it, we are looking at life from the mountain again. A friend told me if you look at the top of a mountain, it's very barren. When you look in a valley, you see that it's full of life. The truth hit me that I should pray for God to keep bringing me back to the valley to keep leaning on Him.

Lyrics:
I never thought that I would amount to anything at all
I get the things have changed
Yet I still feel the same
But I’m not alone

‘Cause Your grace found me
I thought I wasn’t breathing
My heart now sings
‘Cause You chased for me
I never saw it coming
My eyes now see
Your Grace found me

If You had given me up
I would have nothing left at all
Nothing to give of myself
No one to take my place
But You came along

‘Cause Your grace found me
I thought I wasn’t breathing
My heart now sings
‘Cause You chased for me
I never saw it coming
My eyes now see
Your Grace found me

I’m covered over
I’m so wrapped up
It’s all Your love
It’s all Your love

Your Grace found me
When I wasn’t breathing
Grace found me

Your Grace found me
I thought I wasn’t breathing
My heart now sings
‘Cause You chased for me
I never saw You coming
My eyes now see
Your Grace found me

Your Grace found me
Your Grace found me
Your Grace found me

Here's Asbury's Bible commentary on James 2-4: "The stark realities of opposition, discrimination, and resentment, however, become the rule rather than the exception. James charges the reader to turn these difficult, trying experiences into spiritual profit. When he commands them to consider it pure joy, he challenges them to take a definite positive stance in the midst of trials. “Take charge!” he shouts, “Welcome the challenge!” This testing of their faith will begin to generate endurance, which serves as a basic ingredient in the development of Christian character. James challenges the readers to be open to the ultimate effect of endurance—a mature and complete Christian life. The word perfect, a favorite of James, describes “a fullblown character of stable righteousness.” It comes by making trials work to the advantage of the believer. It sounds great, but it is not easy to do. Each situation requires perception, evaluation, and an informed response. Who has that kind of resourcefulness? It is within reach through prayer."

Complete confidence in and reliance upon the grace of God is the theme of this great song and this incredible new album. God has called Christians to become mature and complete as firstfruits of all He created. This is so high a calling and so valuable an attainment that we may consider trials along the way pure joy! Every song on the new album has a similar sentiment of praise and worship to our Savior set to catchy melodies and sung with emotion by Wes Willis. Welcome back Rush of Fools; this is a great return from one of my favorite bands.