Speak Life

Trace and I were elated when the young man who greeted us at the airport was warm and personable. It was a long ride to our concert in Yakima, Washington, and we were eager to learn more about our sponsoring church, local Christian radio station, and the people attending.

As we drove, he shared that the people in the area loved God deeply—but that many of the teenagers in the rural community were struggling spiritually and emotionally.

Trace and I have long felt called to bridge the gap between teens, their families, and the Church. Her music has a youthful edge, yet it reaches across generations and speaks to hearts of all ages. When our driver turned on the radio, we were encouraged to hear a few of Trace’s songs along with call-in contests offering free tickets to the concert. 

Later, in our hotel room, we began praying through the set list, the transitions, the scriptures to share, and any stories or illustrations that might minister to the audience. Trace mentioned a specific scripture she felt strongly impressed to read during the concert. To be honest, it didn’t fit or connect with any of the content we had planned. But I’ve walked with Trace long enough to know that when she senses God leading, He usually has a purpose. So, I encouraged her to go with it.

Midway through the concert, she paused, read the scripture as planned, and moved on. Nothing dramatic happened at the moment—but after the concert, a woman approached Trace with tears in her eyes.

She shared that she had been deeply depressed, angry at God, and ready to end her life. Her teenage daughter had asked her to go to the concert, but she explained they had no money. Her daughter told her to try winning tickets through the radio contest—and to their surprise, they won.

Still bitter and skeptical, she agreed to go only to honor her daughter’s request. Before leaving, she opened her Bible randomly and prayed, “God, if You really care about me, confirm it through this verse.”

When Trace read that very same scripture during the concert, she said she was flooded with the love of God—in an instant, her bitterness and unbelief melted away, and she was transformed by His mercy.

It’s astounding what God did through a teen from a small town and a Christian artist who’s simply willing to risk obedience. We can feel uncertain, come from a complicated past, or wonder if we even hear God clearly. But God is still looking for people who are willing to say yes and speak life.

We Can:

Realize that God gives us the ability to hear Him

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.” Proverbs 20:12 (ESV)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 (NKJV)

God designed us to recognize His voice—it’s not just for the spiritually elite. It’s for His children.

Recognize that God does speak

“God does speak to people. He speaks to them in many different ways. But often people do not recognize his voice.” Job 33:14 (NIV)

Sometimes it’s a whisper, sometimes a word, sometimes through a song or even a random contest. But He’s speaking.

Respond by doing what we see and hear Him do

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”  John 5:19 (NIV)

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”  John 5:30 (NKJV)

Our role isn’t to figure everything out—just to echo what we’ve heard and reflect what we’ve seen in Him.

Reconcile people to Jesus

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

You are a re-presentation of Jesus to a hurting world. And with the Holy Spirit empowering you, your words carry eternal weight.

Re-spell faith as R-I-S-K

“We walk by faith, not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

Faith isn’t just belief—it’s often risky obedience. Trace risked her comfort and reputation to share what seemed like a random verse. But her risk was heaven’s rescue plan for a hurting woman.