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The inspiration for the song came specifically from

Psalm 56: 1-4, 8, 10-11 (The Message)

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Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I’m proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do?

You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

I’m proud to praise God, proud to praise God. Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?

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I suppose the ironic part is that Fearless Now was written during a time in my life that was actually quite terrifying. Besides some pretty intense emotional struggles, I dealt with an excruciatingly painful back condition last summer that left me homebound for several months. I also dealt with another unrelated health issue that led to some surgery in the fall. It was a rough year! All of this was also happening while trying to write songs, record, and travel multiple times to different studios in Nashville. I remember so many sleepless nights up in pain (some alone in hotel rooms), pacing the floors and crying out to God: “Why?” and “Where ARE You?” I was truly afraid I would be in chronic pain for the rest of my life and that this was just what life would be for me.

I had never faced anything like that before, but God certainly moved in those times. He spoke to me in those long nights – telling me I needed to CHOOSE to trust Him. Even thought I might FEEL afraid, I needed to choose to trust Him. I knew I needed to confront my fears and CHOOSE to be fearless in spite of what I was seeing and feeling. Not that I feel I succeeded at that! Even now when I sing the song I find that I ask myself, “Am I REALLY fearless? Do I REALLY trust Him?” It’s something I need to sing over and over to the Lord as a declaration of my choice to trust Him in spite of my circumstances or feelings. It reminds me that instead of retreating in fear and depression, I can choose to press on.

I am truly proud to praise the God who is worthy of my trust, worthy of my praise, and the only One who can save me – from death, from hell, from pain, from sickness, from sin, from shame. He is my salvation, my fortress, my hiding place. He brings me peace in the midst of the storms of life.

The song actually took seven months to complete from start to finish, going through many different lyric re-writes. I wanted it to be less about me and more about Him; less about my feelings and more about who He is; less about my weakness and more about His strength. Sure there are times I feel afraid. I admit it! But because of what I know about who He is and what He’s done for us, I can choose to be fearless and to run the race that He has set before me. You’re worth it all Lord!