[ Mitch for Worship Musician ] I’ ve been listening intently through your new project,“ The Garden.” What were some of the inspirations for the songs?
[ Kari Jobe ] Well, it’ s kind of a two-fold thing with this album. I did a lot of writing out of a season where my sister lost her baby at seven and a half months pregnant at the same time that I was still pregnant with Canyon. And so, it just was really a difficult season … uncharted waters as we celebrated Canyon, but were also grieving with my sister. It was very difficult and I found myself just really having to just really lean into the Lord and not get offended at Him not healing her, but just have to worship through it and trust that He was going to make it beautiful. You know, we don’ t always understand everything we go through. I just really fought to not let it steal from my worship. So, I just wrote a lot out of it. The first song I wrote out of that experience was“ I Will Sing.” It was like two weeks after finding out. I just really started watching God show me that He was up to beautiful things and that He was going to turn what looked so dark and so terrible into something beautiful … and He has done that. It’ s been similar to what it would be like in a garden when you just look around and there’ s beauty around you that God has planted. God’ s planted things in our lives … if we’ ve allowed Him to. They bloom at the right time … what we need and exactly when we need it.
The other side of it is … we wrote a lot with our church home here in Nashville. You know … local church, just writing for our congregation and watching these songs start to take flight. It’ s been really sweet.
[ WM ] What is your church there in Nashville?
[ Kari ] We’ re a part of The Belonging. Our pastors are Henry and Alex Seeley. They were both at Planetshakers for a long time. The church started three years ago.
[ WM ] You mentioned your one-year old son Canyon. How has becoming a mother affected your ministry?
[ Kari ] Yes! I love it! It’ s like my favorite job … my favorite role. It’ s so sweet being a mom. The way that it’ s changed me? I actually feel a lot more settled. There’ s a lot of time that I’ ve just got to sit and be and play and not be in a hurry. I feel like it’ s changed my worship leading in a way to just like … slow down, just rest in the moment of God’ s presence … to just wait there and not be in a hurry to move on to something else. The moments seem sweeter.
[ WM ] What has God been speaking to you lately?
[ Kari ] I really want to feel ready for this upcoming tour and I don’ t want it to feel like a concert. I want His presence to come strong every night. Last night I was just asking Him for more language in my worship leading. A lot of times as worship leaders, we can get stuck in a routine of“ filler words” that work, you know? I’ ve just been asking Him for more language that will come from an overflow. I literally wrote in my journal last night … I felt like He said,“ Intimacy gives language.” Which just means that I need to get to know Him more! So, I can sing more about His goodness and sing more about Who He is not just about what I want Him to do. You know? Just as a worship leader, I want more language. I was just like,“ Thank You Lord! Intimacy gives language.”
[ WM ] How can the readers of Worship Musician pray for you and Cody?
[ Kari ] You know, we’ re about to go on tour. I’ m really gearing up for that and having a baby now … it’ s a LOT more work! Just strength, really, and to feel rested before we head out. We’ re at the end of a three-month hiatus from being on the road and I kind of like it! So, I just need strength!
[ WM ] Again, listening through your record, a song that is really resonating with me is“ Lover of my Soul.” What are some of your favorite songs on the record?
[ Kari ] Yes,“ Lover of my Soul” was fun because we got to write with Martin Smith on that. I mean, I grew up listening to Delirious. His songs were so helpful to the church and writing with him was so fun!
I really love“ Fall Afresh.” It just works really well in church. It’ s a cleansing type song when we sing it. I love that!
I’ m excited to see what“ O The Power” does. It’ s written from the perspective of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. You know, just in those final moments when He knew what was about to take place, He was crying out to the Father,“ If there’ s any other way, take this cup from me. But, not my will but Yours be done.” He was full of emotion! I can’ t wait to see how the church grabs ahold of that one.
And,“ The Garden.” I think that song will have a lot of significant meaning for people. I really love“ Speak to Me” as well.
[ WM ] Other than your music, what songs in worship are speaking to you right now?
[ Kari ] Well,“ What a Beautiful Name.” I love that one. And, I actually recorded“ Here as in Heaven” from Elevation Worship because I just love it so much. I love the shift that happens in the atmosphere of worship. Um … I love anything Bethel. So, whatever they have out is being worn out at my house right now! I can’ t wait for Amanda Cook to come out with something new too.
[ WM ] I have seen you play guitar live when you were on tour with Chris Tomlin. Are you starting to play more instruments live?
[ Kari ] You know, that was before I married my husband, and he can play any instrument and run circles around me! I haven’ t played guitar since I got married … I mean, he’ s just so good, I’ m like,“ Why bother?!”
[ WM ] Do you bring out any instruments when you are writing?
Mar � Apr 2017 WorshipMusician. com
13