“Stepping Stones” is the latest single from the Gotee artist country-pop/Christian duo RENEE. RENEE is a pop duo made up of sisters, Riley Renee and Rachael Renee. This great new song is a deeply personal, faith-driven track about trusting life's journey. It reflects on the duo's move from their hometown to Nashville, recognizing that every obstacle is a "stepping stone" directed by God. I had the chance to speak with Rachael and Riley about “Stepping Stones.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
Rachael: The personal story behind this song is I went in the studio and was thinking about all the ways God has worked in our lives. I had gotten really sick in 2024, and we’ve both had business and personal changes. The song was inspired by our reflections on finding meaning in change. We’ve moved from Illinois to Nashville to be part of the music industry and it has brought significant shifts. We rely on the message that every rock life throws can be turned into a step forward. These are genuine lyrics based on how God has worked in our lives.
Riley: God knows our future and our plans, and He has something so great for us. God promises to turn what happens to us and turn it into something good for us. God is all-knowing. Trust Him and let Him lead you and guide you. Someone mentioned this is a fantastic graduation song. I went back and listened to it from that perspective, and it really does connect to the message of graduating and trusting God with our future.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV): “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
John 15:5 (NKJV): "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Matthew 17:20 (NIV): “He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV): "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Romans 8:11 (VOICE): “If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.”
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."
Psalm 63:4 (VOICE): "I will bless You with every breath of my life; I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name."
What is the takeaway message?
Rachael: The first verse sets the tone for the song: "When I look back on where I started out/If you told me that I’d be here right now/I’d probably tell you/It’d never happen." There are a lot of moments where we question why God lets things happen in our lives. It’s not necessarily bad that things change and don’t happen how we expect them to. It may be God growing you and taking you where you need to go. We should be asking God how can I move to where You want me to be in this season. I hope people take every rock and know God has turned it into a stepping stone.
Riley: There are so many stories in the Bible where God knows what’s best and He sees the things we don’t. There are so many instances in life where we know we can’t do something on our own. He is with us and wants to guide us and be with us every step of the way. The devil wants to throw rocks at us and God wants to save us.
Lyrics
When I look back on where I started out
If you told me that I’d be here right now
I’d probably tell you
It’d never happen
But you made the sunshine
Through the clouds
Now I’m on the other
Side of the mountain
And I still don’t know how
Every yes, every no
They all told me where to go
Helped me learn, helped me grow
How’d I get here? heaven knows
You took your time on the journey
I let patience pave the road
You took every single rock life tried to throw
And turned them into stepping stones
You promised me
I’d see the promise land
And I’m finally here, it was worth every tear to get to where I am
It’s not by my own strength, I only had a little faith
But you planted the seed
Into your solid ground, you dug my roots down deep
Oh, I didn’t see it then but now I finally know
It’s not a dead end if I ended up back home
Every roadblock was You rebuilding the road
Closing Thoughts
RENEE’s music truly sets me apart from daily distractions and circumstances, causing me to focus all of my attention on Jesus. Something the Lord has been teaching me in writing these devotionals over the past 18 years is to point people to the Truth of Scripture found in these songs of faith, as it can bring us back to Him. This song is all about having a strong faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Sometimes we have a tendency to think we can try to know everything. God tells us in the Bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ.
God communicates with us through His quiet, gentle voice. As believers, we must find time to “be still and know that He is God.” Are you open to the Holy Spirit working in your life? Are you listening to His guidance? He will set you free.
When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, our relationship with the comforter deepens, and a peace beyond understanding begins to take hold. This peace stems from the awareness that our life isn't solely directed by this fallen world. As His children, we are called to carry God’s love wherever we go, trusting in His constant presence. I often reflect on and sing this song to God, and it consistently brings me comfort.
This song is about submitting all your worries, anxieties, and stress to God and letting Him guide you. He wants to walk beside you, and He wants us to be bold and unafraid.
We walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to trust God more with our lives. God tells us in the Bible that we can do anything in Christ with faith.
This song is a great way to live out walking by faith, not by sight: “Oh, I didn’t see it then but now I finally know/It’s not a dead end if I ended up back home/Every roadblock was You rebuilding the road.” I can't get enough of this song, especially the bridge, “How’d I get here? Heaven knows/You took your time on the journey/I let patience pave the road/You took every single rock life tried to throw/And turned them into stepping stones!” Amen to that!
