My recent conversation with indie artist Eowyn was more than just another interview. As I took in her passion and her wisdom, I realized it was more of a “God-thing.”
We kept missing emails until Eowyn wisely took the bull by the horns and just called, catching me at a moment when the thing I needed most was to hear a sista speak words of faith. A God-thing, you know?
Because yes, Eowyn is a gifted musician, a talented lyricist, and an intense performer. But she is above all of that, a woman who knows well the God of whom she sings so passionately. And she is honest enough to admit that she struggles with moments of discouragement and weariness just like the rest of us, for in the course of our chat she mentioned a tough review she had gotten for her most recent (and wonderful) album, "Identity." (Click here for my review)
"It can be frustrating," she confessed, "But God is always trying to remind me that it's not about me; it's about Him. I have to then look back and ask myself, did I do what God told me to do? And with "Identity," I knew that I had. The lyrics were from Him, and God had directed us to just the right producer. But it's a reminder that even if I do get discouraged, I have to go back and check myself. I remember that I only have to do what God has told me to do. And if I have, I really can't expect anything more. I have to understand that there is a reason behind all of it. This enables me to go back and be thankful, even for that bad review." She laughs as she adds, "But it took a little while."
I find this level of honest openness refreshing and when I comment on it, Eowyn responds, "If I didn't have Jesus in my life, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Growing up, I was definitely the insecure one, the girl who questioned who she was all the time. But what I didn't question was Jesus. I knew He was the purpose of my life."
She continues, "I'm so thankful for Him and the opportunities He's given me. Even when I write, it's such a release, if I'm going through something, to get before Him. I just start expressing all my feelings, so most of my lyrics are straight to Him."
I find it exciting that a hard rocker like Eowyn brings such an empowering message to young women who struggle with these issues, and she tells me of a recent ministry moment in a Tennessee church. "There were a lot of young girls there when I shared some of my story, and I asked if any had ever felt suicidal, or alone, or discouraged, and four girls came up. We cried and prayed together," she shares. "It is definitely my heart to reach those who have that low self-image and don't understand what God's call is on their lives. I want to reassure them that if they look to Jesus, they will find their identity in Him, not in the world."
Eowyn herself is in an industry that promises a certain amount of rejection and uphill struggle, but she knows right where to turn. "I can't take any of that personally. Even if someone turns you down or you get rejected, it's God that has allowed that to happen so there must be a reason. It's a constant character builder for me." She is laughing again as she jokes, "Sometimes I tell my mom I'm mad at God again today. But He doesn't mind when I cry to Him or get down. He just helps me to get my mind set back on Him again, to really focus on the reason behind it all." Eowyn is a woman of faith who knows how to rock, and it's a powerful combination.
