BETWEEN THE LINER NOTES
Sara Groves: Being God's Beauty on
Earth
By Hannah Goodwyn
Associate Producer
CBN.com –
Tragedies, great or small, can bring such a despair and
fear to the minds of people. Letting go of these feelings is not
easy, but Sara Groves is discovering that by trusting God she
can release her worries and become a beautiful testimony of His
love.
During the production of her last album, “Other Side of
Something” (2004), she questioned God and struggled with
how to parent her two sons in such a messed up world. “Where
is He in the face of all this, all this suffering and pain?”
God heard her cries and gave His answer. Sara’s new view
on life is the motivation of her latest release and renewed statement
of faith, “Add to the Beauty.” The message is that
the God’s Word is true, and Christians need to live like
it.
“When we begin to operate as if the Kingdom of God is real,
and it’s not just in the heavenlies or some of ideology
that is far off, but that it is real, I really believe it will
change the world,” Sara said.
In response to her questions, God “pointed to all these
people adding to the beauty,” she said, “people who
allowed that call and that challenge to change their lives and
who are then in effect changing the world.”
A close friend of Sara’s, who was living in a difficult
situation, decided to trust God. “This is so hard, but she
is taking hold of the Kingdom of God,” Sara said. She is
making “her way into a better story.”
“This album is influenced by these people who are believing
God and are letting that change their hearts, families, work,
and lives,” she said.
These faithful are adding to the beauty of God’s never-ending
story by living a life that glorifies Him. Sara believes that
Mother Teresa understood this very well. The beloved nun “said
‘you can do no great things, only small things with great
love,’” Sara explained.
Evidence of this love is seen in Sara’s family life.
“If I have a strong marriage, all the glory goes to God,”
she said. “If I have a strong family, all the glory goes
to God because it’s definitely in our nature to be selfish,
and it takes the fruit of the Spirit, it takes the Kingdom of
God to see things through in families.”
Christian artist/producer Charlie Peacock taught Sara the importance
of having a good marriage.
He told her that marriage is God’s art, and “that
when you see a beautiful marriage it’s like seeing a masterpiece,
a great work of art,” she said. “It takes your breath
away.” Strong marriages are inspirational, and even “a
little piece of the Kingdom on Earth.”
“And every time we put our selfish needs down and we serve
someone else, the Kingdom of God is pulsing there. It is alive
there. It is redemptive there,” Sara said.
Christians also can become amazing testimonies to others by fulfilling
the call God has on them. It is important to “let Him define
normal for my family and my life,” she said.
Sara’s musical talents are another way for her to add beauty
to this world. She hopes to “write redemptive, create redemptive
art in music that causes people to reflect on the very real Kingdom
of God…and where it’s actually changing their hearts
and mobilizing them for action,” the songwriter said.
Sara recognizes that God wants to shine His light through her.
She also knows that although it is not easy to live an honorable
life, it is possible through God’s grace.
“It is no small miracle when God brings beauty in my life,”
she said. “This to me is the good news; that we can contribute.”
Sara and every human being is “part of the equation,”
part of the big story. “God didn’t need us, but by
His grace he said I want you to tell my story. I want you to be
my mouthpieces. It is a tremendously humbling thought that the
God of the Universe would use me in any redemptive story. And
yet he does over and over again,” Sara said.
Most Christians believe that God is in control of their future,
but fear can still cripple lives. Sara knows that difficulties
are inevitable on this Earth, but now she realizes that God always
knows more than we do.
“The thing that the believer has that nobody else does
is eternity in our hearts,” she said. “I actually
believe that there is a sovereign God who is working sovereignly
on my behalf for my ultimate good end.”
By keeping this in the forefront of her thoughts, Sara is able
to allow God to direct her life without having to respond to circumstances
with fear or anxiousness. Even as she thinks of her children and
the fallen world they are subjected to, she resolves to trust
that God is big enough to handle their future.
Her new song “To the Moon” points to the desire some
may have to get out of this place — away from the disappointments,
crime, political agendas, and sin. She understands why the early
American settlers came to the New World: to have religious freedom.
In light of the destruction and religious oppression in the world
today, she asks listeners, “Where do we go now, to the moon?”
Sara does not believe retreating is the answer.
“It is time to be salt and light, and believe that the
Kingdom of God is bigger than politics and people,” she
said.
Her heart yearns for God’s people to depend on Him for
strength to live righteously here on the Earth He created, with
the people He loves.
Sara does not know what specific role she will play, but she
cannot wait to find out the whole story. Until God reveals the
big picture, Sara simply will continue to live each day reflecting
His beauty.
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