When I first heard "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts, I was immediately hooked by the inspirational and personal message. Kerrie's last release Time for the Show was one of my Top 5 Albums of 2013. The album powerfully encouraged listeners to rely on God in difficult times, as well as displaying her incredible powerhouse vocals.

Kerrie's albums are also great for fans of Kelly Clarkson and Natalie Grant. Her songs are totally inspiring and great reminders to have faith and to allow God to use you, no matter what. My new favorite Kerrie Roberts song is "Come Back to Life" from her debut independent EP My Heart’s Lifted, available on September 9. I had the chance to speak with Kerrie about the song.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

"What Are You Afraid Of" was the first song I ever took to radio by myself, and "Come Back to Life" is my first independent single. It has a special place in my heart. The message especially makes it important to me. It is about depression and thoughts of suicide.

There are so many people in this dark place that keep their mouths shut. Then they do something to themselves or someone close to them, and they are in shock. I want the song to become a catalyst for conversation, for someone in that place to know that they are safe and can ask for help, and hopefully create a movement of knowing there is safety in talking about it.

What inspired the writing of the song is that there are people in my life who I know struggle with depression. I was trying to come up with a way to be supportive of them and also give them a nudge. People tend to make a home in that dark place, and that’s where they stay. I don’t want to be insensitive and say "snap out of it," but I want to instead say "let’s take a small step today." Whether that’s getting out of bed, talking about it, or whatever that is, let’s do something each day instead of making a home in your pain. I know that’s comfortable, and people like to build up walls, and then you end up alone in your pain.

I have a friend who is very dear to me who had a friend commit suicide. Everyone was in total shock and nobody had a clue. There was this whole community of people, and most of them were not Christians, and everybody was rocked by it. I wanted to write a song to hopefully bring healing, and maybe even save a life.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

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.

John 1:12-13 (VOICE): But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will.

1 Corinthians 3:7 (NKJV): So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

What is the takeaway message?

It’s been really cool singing this song live, and having people come up to me afterward and learning about people getting help, or being inspired to talk to someone. That Scripture passage, Romans 8:11, is so powerful. That’s what I want people to know. That same power that brought our God back to life is with us now. If He can do that, then now He can bring all of us back to life as well. Whatever you’ve built around you, He can help set you free by taking those little steps. That’s my hope for this song.

Everything in the music video for the song was intentional, including the hairstyle, makeup and Designer Clothing. It starts out with everything dark, my makeup, clothing and a dark filter on the camera. Then there is a transition throughout the video, and at the end everything is more colorful and bright. There are scenes with me painting, which represent the choices you make. We all have certain circumstances imposed on us that we don’t have control over. But we all have choices. That’s what the painting represents.

It starts out with boxing ourselves in to that house of pain that we’ve built and staying in it. Then we expand that box and take those little steps. Then we start growing and coming alive and becoming bright. I wanted it to be very deliberate. The video is a visual representation of starting in darkness and coming back to life.

The song is calling out to everyone going through the trials of everyday life, and also to those dealing with depression, living in a dark place or even battling with thoughts of suicide. The plea of the song is that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is still available to us. We can all "come back to life." Jesus doesn’t exist just in the New Testament thousands of years ago. He exists here with us today. When we feel alone, we can ask Him and He will help us. God gives the increase.

Lyrics:
Hands wrapped tight
Around the memories
Plays back just like a movie
A waking nightmare haunts you day and night.

You've got scars
That won't fade away
You feel them every day
So stuck you made a home
Inside your pain.

Have to make a start
Have to take that step
Leave it behind
Before it takes your breath.

You don't have to stay in the same old place
Throwing it all away
Don't hold to the pain
To the hurt to the shame
That keeps coming back like a boomerang
There's grace that's stronger
Holds on longer
Deeper than your wounds.

So open up your eyes
The sun is gonna rise
You're coming back to life.

Just come back (just come back)
Just come back (just come back)
Come back to life

Just come back

Yeah it's hard
The last round in a fight
Swing back
Break into the light
Don't stop believing 
Leave the darkness behind.

Have to make a start
Have to take that step
Leave it behind
Before it takes your breath.

You don't have to face this alone
And don't forget whose child you are
Just remember the One
Who defeated death to heal your heart
He makes things new 
Old things are gone
Now watch Him turn it all around.

Kerrie has made a stirring song and music video that captures the hope-filled message of grace in the bridge: "just remember the One who defeated death to heal your heart." Amen. I'm captivated by how her song moves me emotionally and connects me spiritually to the truth behind the song. Her vocals will soothe your soul, and the lyrics will direct your attention on the One who defeated death to heal your heart.

God’s resurrection power from The Holy Spirit, that same power that defeated death and raised Jesus from the grave, is available to followers of Jesus. I love the translation of 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." We can all make the choice to ask The Holy Spirit to indwell us with His supernatural ability to overcome what the Enemy wants us to think about ourselves.

That’s what this song is all about. We are aware of many situations involving people taking their own lives after dealing with depression. Kerrie’s hope is to pass on the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. As Kerrie so powerfully urges in this song, "There's grace that's stronger, holds on longer, deeper than your wounds. So open up your eyes, the sun is gonna rise, you're coming back to life."

Allow The Holy Spirit to "cast the light of life into your mortal bodies." If you are struggling with depression, please know with certainty these life-giving words: "You don't have to face this alone, and don't forget whose child you are. Just remember the One Who defeated death to heal your heart." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)