Brooke Robertson’s “Hey God” Reminds Listeners That He Is Always Near

Celebrating her first new single in nearly four years, Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Brooke Robertson returns with "Hey God." Now available on streaming platforms, the poignant country ballad was written by Robertson, Ross King and Jeremy Holderfield and produced by Brent Milligan (Steven Curtis Chapman, Tauren Wells).

With the release of her 2020 full-length debut, Taking My Voice Back, singer/songwriter Brooke Robertson emerged as a talented musical storyteller unafraid to mine a range of deeply personal topics via her country-infused pop songs.

The project's autobiographical title-cut, which articulates Robertson's healing journey as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, has become a signature anthem for the Louisiana-based artist as well as a lifeline of Hope for others walking through similar circumstances. Composing and recording "Taking My Voice Back" also helped Robertson mark an important milestone in her trauma recovery, as she made the decision to personally extended forgiveness to her abuser. She shares her story and her music regularly at churches, youth events and women's conferences around the country, a testament to God's faithfulness in her life.  

Q: Brooke, thank you for doing this interview with us. Can you share some about your traumatic experience as a child and how it affected your life?

When I was 10 years old, I was sexually abused. As a little girl, I did the only thing I knew to do, and that was to stay silent and not tell anyone. I convinced myself for 15 years that I was ok, but deep down I never allowed those wounds to heal. Honestly, I didn't know how at that age. It wasn't until I was an adult that God highlighted the unforgiveness I was holding on to. Not even realizing it, I let in fear, insecurity, and so many other things that I allowed to become my identity. It skewed my thought patterns, but at the time, I just thought that was me. 

Q: How did you find healing and the ability to forgive the person who hurt you?

In my early 20s, as I was getting into music professionally, I was the most insecure I had ever been and really questioned God about being in the industry. I didn't feel like I belonged, like I wasn't good enough. But God knew if not for music, I would've never shared my story.

Eventually, I knew it was time to write a song about my experience, but I wasn't sure where to start. I also knew this meant disclosing the secret I had carried for so many years. After some time, I realized I had to start by forgiving my abuser. I reached out to the person, forgave them, and was fully set free in that moment. I felt light again. I didn't realize how heavy unforgiveness was until I let it go. Forgiveness doesn't excuse the wrong done, but forgiveness does set you free. That's exactly what I felt. 

Q: How did you feel the call to be in the music ministry?

I never had plans to be in music. I always loved to sing growing up, but I never wrote songs or journaled like most. I loved sports, horses, and was working on getting into graduate school to become an occupational therapist. During my last year of college in 2016, a friend helped me record some cover songs and we uploaded them to my social media just for fun. I had no intention of doing anything else with music other than that. I still had my mind set on school. 

My own plan was nowhere near where God wanted me. I just knew I wanted to help people who had experienced trauma work towards living as normal of a life as possible. But my plans to go to grad school fell through, and I felt defeated-like a door had slammed in my face. A couple of months after that, my now producer and mentor, Jeremy Holderfield, found one of my videos on Facebook. He reached out and invited me up to Nashville to write. It didn't make sense to me at the time because I had no experience songwriting, and it was hard for me to accept that my own plan wasn't working out. I still had hopes God would work a miracle and somehow get me into a school. Despite feeling this way, I went to Nashville and just said, "If it's God, I'll know."

Here I am over seven years later, still writing songs and sharing my testimony through them. Looking back, I can see what God was doing. He was sending people along the way to encourage me, and now-through music-I can help others who have been through trauma know that their identity is in Jesus and that freedom is possible through forgiveness. How amazing is God?!  

Q: Tell us more about your new single "Hey God"?

"Hey God" was written as an honest conversation with the Lord. I start my prayers by saying, "Hey God," because He's just that personal. I didn't realize it would be a song that would encourage me later when our family entered one of the most challenging seasons we've experienced. My aunt and spiritual mentor had a sudden brain bleed and passed away six months later. It's hard when you believe for a miracle and it doesn't happen the way you hoped. I withdrew from talking to God for a short time, until He quickly brought back memories I had of my aunt praying during her hardest moments.

This song is a reminder to never stop praying, no matter the situation. Even when you don't know how or what to ask for, He just wants us to talk to Him. I can bring all my feelings and my honest thoughts before Him, and He listens. That's brought me closer to God than I've ever been. 

Q: What can fans expect in terms of new music that is to come?

I have many more songs in the works right now, and I can't wait to share them! 

For further information, visit brookerobertsonmusic.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow Robertson on Instagram and Facebook.  

 

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