Inhale (Exhale): Breathing in Grace and Living Out HopeSample

Over the years, I (Bart) have learned that I have no problem opening up about what I’m struggling with in my life and conveying those thoughts and feelings through my songwriting. I have always penned lyrics from a deeply personal place, which is likely one of the reasons our songs like "I Can Only Imagine", "Even If", "Grace Got You", and "Dear Younger Me" have connected well to a broad audience.

In crafting songs for the album "inhale (exhale)", I realized I was struggling to write for the first time in my life. One day, I was processing my creative struggle with Scott Brickell, our long-time manager. After listening intently, he simply said, “Maybe it’s because you feel like you’re having to manufacture suffering? Is it possible that things are good right now and that’s causing the difference in your writing?” Light bulb moment.

For so long, I had associated my own suffering with the songs that meant the most to me. I was going to have to find a different path to create new music, and God soon revealed that I had spent years telling my story, as well as the band’s, but now I needed to connect our songs to other people’s stories.

The reality is we all love glory and hate suffering, right? Yet suffering is the catalyst God has used to drive so many of us to realize our need for a Savior. Then as we begin to grow as Christ-followers, our maturity also tends to be born from that same battle, far more than from blessing. The good times can lead us to a false sense of thinking that we are bullet-proof. That is, until our world crashes again, reminding us of our need.

Our response to both suffering and glory is so important in our walk with God. As the apostle Paul stated in today’s passage, he knew this constant battle for balance very well.  We all have to learn to view the suffering God may allow in our lives as only a path to create maturity in us and bring glory to His name by our perseverance and obedience. We must also remember the glory He will one day invite us to experience in His presence where there is no more suffering.

Where is suffering affecting your life right now? Where do you need God to help you gain a fresh perspective to persevere in Him?