Though few things are more unsettling than stepping out of your comfort zone, nothing can compare to the opportunities that come from total surrender to God’s call. Ask KarynWilliams. She left behind friends and family to move to Nashville, and God has used her obedience to open doors she could never have imagined. Ever since signing a record deal in 2011 and becoming label mates with Christian artists such as the Newsboys & Jaci Velasquez, Karyn has quickly become one of the Christian music community’s most talked about new artists. Already called “this generation’s Amy Grant,” Karyn was featured in Billboard magazine as one of the “Best Bets” of 2012, and other gatekeepers are singing her praises as well. Yet it’s not industry accolades that fuel Karyn’s artistry; it’s her desire to touch people with the good news of God’s grace and mercy.
“My message is about freedom and hope,” Karyn says. “There’s a freedom that comes only through Christ that I want everyone in the world to understand. That’s why I write, and that’s why I sing.” And that’s what we’ll discuss during Karyn’s interview!
About Karyn Williams
After graduating from the University of Florida, Karynmoved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. In 2010, she released to radio her first single Rejoice, and in August 2012 she released her Inpop Records debut Only You. Karyn will also release a music video for her songJust May Be in conjunction with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI).
Karyn lives in Nashville with her songwriter/producer husband, Brian White. She is the eldest daughter of Orlando Magic Senior Vice President and founder Pat Williams. Her international family includes 19 children, fourteen of whom are adopted.
You can find out more about Karyn at www.KarynWilliams.com.
Karyn’s Success Tips
I have definitely walked through times in my life when I couldn’t see God, couldn’t feel Him, couldn’t hear Him. Sometimes you feel all alone and wonder if your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and hitting you in the head. Let me encourage you with the words from “Hey There” — “He knows right where you are and what you’re going through. He knows everything you feel…” During one particularly difficult season in my life when I was still living in Orlando, I was a wreck one day over a situation I was in…I mean a wreck. I was in the middle of crying my eyes out when I was overcome with the urge to get out my Bible and open to the beginning of the book of James. I started reading, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Off to the side I had written in my Bible “not if”, as in when you face trials, not if. That was such a comfort to me that day realizing that so many people before me have felt the same way and it’s our tough times that shape us, strengthen us and teach us to lay it all down and let God be in charge. Not long after my dad’s cancer diagnosis he said, “I guess I had more to learn in this life and Multiple Myeloma is going to be my teacher.” I was floored. He was choosing to look at cancer as a learning experience? That’s just crazy. Or is it? I heard Laura Story talking about her song “Blessings” as a “journey of redefining what blessings are in our lives.” We tend to think of ourselves as “blessed” when things are going good in our lives. And when things aren’t going as well, we question God and wonder what we’ve done wrong. If you’re going through a tough situation right now, God is not punishing you. I believe He allows things to happen in our lives to shape us, and mold us into who He wants us to be. The key is understanding and accepting that nothing happens to us that isn’t Father-filtered and He is right there with you through it all.
So my advice to anyone who is hurting right now is this: Tomorrow morning take a big deep breath and then get up, suit up, show up, do the next right thing and trust God with the results. Your life is in His hands. He never promised us life would be easy, but He did promise us He’d walk with us through every single day. That’s a promise I’m clinging to!
Karyn’s Favorite Quote
“Get up, suit up, show up, do the NEXT right thing, and trust God with the results!” – Dr. David Foster, Founding Pastor at The Gathering Nashville
Listen to the interview with Karyn by clicking the link below.
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Thank you, Karyn, for sharing so much of your faith journey with us. I know many a person will be blessed by this candid interview and through your soul-ful music. I pray God continues to use you and your gift of song to draw people closer to Him.
Come visit us again!
Jory