How God met me as I pursued music
Written by Alysha Kyle
Early in January 2020, I felt convicted of neglecting to cultivate a gift God was stirring in me. I’d never thought I was good enough at songwriting. And whenever I did finish a song, I would either just share it once or not at all. But in response to God’s conviction, I leaned in.
I started writing and journaling four or five days a week. Eventually, small segments of songs emerged. I grew excited because I knew in my spirit things were changing.
But the change wasn’t what I expected. The pandemic hit and the world stopped. My job was deemed inessential (I was a hairdresser), so I spent a year and a half in and out of work.
Since the beginning of 2020, I have moved out of my apartment, finished off multiple notebooks, questioned everything, waited for financial provision, cried many tears, joined an online songwriting academy, and had extended periods of time off from my hairdressing job.
But through all these changes and upheavals, I’ve made connections I wouldn’t have made otherwise—connections that brought me to a studio to record my first songs.
I’m still wondering what God has planned for me, but the difference now is I’m moving forward. Before, I stayed in a waiting period, wondering when God would show up. I’m learning to be present in the moment and obedient with the resources and abilities I currently have, knowing God will be faithful to fill in the gaps.
I discovered that constant movement allowed new things to grow. This is why God asks us to step out in faith. We don’t have to know the full answer, we just have to give God our “yes.” I learned the hard way that I can’t wait around with a dream and expect that one day it will magically happen.
Instead, the gospel moves us from receiving life through faith to the power of living by faith (Romans 1:17). And I have seen my faith grow as I confidently stand on God’s promise of redemption. Looking to Him for everything helps arrange my heart to desire His kingdom.
The best part about this past year has been watching God use my restoration to encourage others through my music. I’ve written songs about surrender and renewal because this is exactly what I’m walking through. I’ve learned that creating songs isn’t just about giving something to others; it’s also about digging deep into my own relationship with the Lord.
There’s a weight to putting words in people’s minds. Because of this, I’ve had to really question my lyrics to see if I was asking something of others without the willingness to do these things myself. There have been moments of deep anguish as I allowed God permission to sift through my habits, my ways of thinking, and how I react or respond to the people around me.
Through this process, I started to realize how stuck I was in different areas of my life. Psalm 32 says God will direct our paths. “Don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” (Psalm 32:9, TPT).
How often do I stubbornly refuse to let go of something to go with God? I’m thankful for His grace as He stays close by, gently reminding me of His presence. He waits for me to surrender before transforming me from the inside out.
It was in seeking His kingdom first that all these things started to line up. A songwriting academy appeared on my newsfeed, I made a connection with a producer, and money was provided to record.
Being rooted in the truth of God’s word and listening for His voice allows me to know what walking in freedom truly looks like.
How is it only now that I’m beginning to recognize this truth in the deepest parts of my heart?
God wants us to bring others with us on our journeys—to point people to Him. I want so deeply for you to know that God is waiting for you to come to Him. Ask Him the hard questions. Don’t feel like you always need to know the right thing to say.
Ask yourself what is holding you back from walking in freedom. What aren’t you giving up for fear of losing control? Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Your unbelief will not weaken God’s faithfulness, so trust Him. He knows what you need. Give Him everything and watch what He does with your life.
Find Alysha’s music on her website www.alyshakyle.com.
