WHOA That's Good Podcast - God’s Way Is Better — I Finally Believe It | Sadie Roberton Huff & Jamie MacDonald

Episode Date: May 21, 2025

Jamie MacDonald shares her story of redemption, recovery, healing, and belonging with Sadie in this special conversation. From living in a house where her stepdad told her no music was allowed to now being a singer-songwriter, Jamie says she never doubted that God had a bigger plan for her life, even though she tried doing it her way for a long time. And now, while she says she still doesn't feel "qualified" to share about the Lord, her story and her gift of music and songwriting speak volumes about God's enduring power and love — and about how He uses her weakness to demonstrate it all. Sadie and Jamie talk about their moments of surrendering to God, their experiences being on tour, and Sadie shares why reading her Bible just for herself right now has been such a gift.  https://drinklmnt.com/whoa — Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase! https://liberty.edu/Sadie — Get your application fee WAIVED when you start your future with Liberty University today! https://drinkag1.com/whoa — Get a FREE bottle of AG D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, AND 5 of the upgraded AG1 travel packs with your first order. - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When does fast grocery delivery through Instacart matter most? When your famous grainy mustard potato salad isn't so famous without the grainy mustard. When the barbecue's lit, but there's nothing to grill. When the in-laws decide that, actually, they will stay for dinner. Instacart has all your groceries covered this summer, so download the app and get delivery in as fast as 60 minutes. Plus enjoy zero dollar delivery fees on your first three orders. Service fees exclusions and terms apply. Instacart. Groceries that over-deliver. What's up, everybody? Okay, before we get into today's podcast episode, which I am so excited about, I got to tell you all something brand new on the Live Original website that

just dropped that you have got to know about. It's called the ELO study. It is a seven-week Bible study that we want you to download and do It's called the ELO study. It is a seven week Bible study that we want you to download and do one by yourself, but more than that with friends. The whole thing is sisters who study together and we are hoping that this will help you get in the word with community. That's our whole goal in this,

that we know so many people have been asking us how to read the Bible. We've done so many podcasts like that, how to make community centered in Christ. And so we're hoping that we can help bridge that gap for you. And so we dropped the LO study. We want you to download it, read it, soak it all up, and maybe meet some friends or further your friendships in the meantime.

I also want to let you know about something that's dropping next month or starting next month, and it's LO Local. This is so exciting, y'all. In several cities around the nation, there are gonna be local groups that are meeting together that are actually going through this study together. And so maybe you don't have that Christenary community right now, but you're in one of these cities, go to one of the local nights, study the word together

with these new sisters and friends. If you're not in one of those cities, then we encourage you, we're also gonna be doing a LO virtual so you can just watch it on like a Zoom call or something and that's where you can connect. Or you can start one for yourself. If you're like, hey, I wanna start a LO local,

text some friends, text your group and say, hey, let's start this together, let's read this study together. And I think that you'll be deeply encouraged. The whole first one is on sisterhood and friendship. And I just hope that it makes you fall more in love with who God is. I hope that it helps you fall more in love with who God is. I hope that it helps you build your community

and know that you're gonna love it. So we're so excited about that. Make sure to head over to the Live Original website and download the LO study and get your friends on it too. All right, without further ado, we're gonna jump into today's podcast. Y'all, it is a good one. Your week is about to get so much better.

We have a new guest in the house today that you guys are just going to absolutely love. You probably heard her music, but today you're going to hear her story as well. And I'm so excited to introduce Jamie McDonald to the podcast. So welcome to Louisiana, girl. Thank you. I'm loving it so far. It welcome to Louisiana, girl. Thank you. I'm loving it so far. It's pretty cool, right? It's been amazing. It's pretty cool.

We were just talking about having a cool life. East Nashville's cool. Yeah. Monroe's cool, right? Monroe's cool. Yeah. I just got the Duck Tour, so I'm extra inspired. Yeah, now you really have reached the cool,

the Duck Tour, that's so funny. But no, I'm so glad you're here. I'm so glad you're on this podcast. I've said this to guests before and I truly mean it. To get to prepare for someone to be on this podcast and study someone's life or research their music or their projects, it is such a blessing to me because I'm so encouraged by who they are.

So this morning I listened to a podcast you did, I listened to your music and now I'm like, man, what a great start to my day to get to hear all the things that God has done in your life. And I'm so glad that everyone's about to get to hear the things that God has done. So you're just awesome and cheering you on

and I can't wait to have a conversation. But first, Jamie, this is the question I ask everybody who comes on this podcast for the first time. If you're not ready for it, it'll come from left field. But what is the best piece of advice you've ever been given? I would say right when I became a Christian, when I was 21 years old, I had just moved to Kansas City to pursue music.

I was about to attend a music school and I was talking with this homeless man outside of a Kroger. And I often love getting in conversations with homeless people just because they just have a lot to share and they're always blessing me with whatever they share. But this guy said, no matter what happens to you,

don't harden your heart. And at the time I was like, man, I just gave my life to Jesus. I expected my life was about to get easier and better because I had such a past and a really hard heart in the past, but God had already healed so much in that first year. And it was just cool because that phrase stayed with me throughout my whole walk with the Lord.

And I thought everything was going to start happening good. And it really was a long journey, even after giving my life to Jesus. And heartbreak and addiction in my family and just life, how it happens to all of us. We're gonna face a lot of different things. But I would always hear that phrase, like don't go back to that heart and heart

that you used to have. So that was just cool. Dang, that is so good. And coming from someone who is homeless, you have to know they have a story. And for that person to say, don't let your heart get hard, is like you feel the weight of the words

a little differently when you know someone's probably walked through some really hard stuff that would lead you to having a hard heart. Which that's so real. And I love that you're just honest and saying like, hey whenever I started following Jesus I thought it was gonna get good and it didn't at first, you know, and it's never ever promised to always be good. Yeah. I do think a lot of people go in with the expectation of like, I'm gonna get saved now things are about to get good. Here comes the blessing. Here comes, it's like, that is not what the word even says. But sometimes church can be misleading in that

and messages can be misleading in that. Okay, before we dive into your story, I just wanna ask you about conversations with homeless people because that's so intriguing to me. How do you like get into a good conversation with homeless people? Do you initiate it? Like, what does that look like?

I would say if I'm walking and I see someone sitting there, I'll just stop and just say, hey, how are you doing? I usually keep some cash on me and there's debates about that, whether you should give homeless people cash. But I'm just like, whatever they need, they're gonna buy and that's not up to me. But yeah, I just love hearing their story.

A lot of times for me it's like, I have compassion because I know that there's a place in their story where something probably happened to them that wasn't fair. And so like from a young age, you know, it's like they've got the craziest stories of how they ended up there. And I just love hearing that.

And everyone's got a story and I just, I love stories. So. It's cool. I am so with you. We had Jimmy Darts on the podcast years ago. He's amazing. Love Jimmy Darts. He's like just been such an inspiration

for initiating conversations with people. Yeah. Not being afraid to bless people, which sounds funny, but it's so true. Like you feel intimidated to even give someone money or ask people how they're doing. And it's like when you break it down, why do I feel that way?

What's the worst that could happen? This is gonna open the door to a good conversation or if anything, they're gonna feel blessed. And at the end of the day, yeah, it's like, okay, who's to say how they're gonna spend their money? It's not on you to know that. Or it's like, this is your obedience to give. And so anyways, he has inspired me a lot. And so when you brought that up or it's like, this is your obedience to give. And so anyways, he has inspired me a lot.

And so when you brought that up, I was like, I gotta know, like, what's your story with that? So that's really cool. All right, let's backtrack. Tell us about who you are. You mentioned you're from a small town in Michigan. What was life like growing up? Well, born in Nashville first, my dad was a pro boxer.

And so we traveled a ton as a family. He was fighting the world title around the time I was born. And so it was just a crazy time to be a kid. My dad was gone a lot. So my mom was kind of on her own raising us. And so my childhood just feels like it was a little bit sad and hard just because we would wait for him to like have a big fight to kind of provide

like an income for us and it just wouldn't happen. Like he wouldn't win and then we would end up struggling again and my mom was waitressing and a very young mom, I think she, by the time she was 19, she had three kids or at least two kids and then shortly after had my brother. And so, yeah, it was just a tough time. And I kind of just remember internalizing

and getting really quiet and being quiet about having any needs and stuff like that. So they ended up divorcing and my mom basically raised us on her own for a number of years as a waitress. And so we were in the restaurant a lot with her. And I kind of remember like rolling silverware as a kid and just like hiding under the booths.

And there are some like fun memories with that. But I just remember she really, really struggled. And then around the age of 12, my mom remarried. And that was kind of what brought us. We moved to a new town and I started a new school. And my new stepdad, although he provided like a ton of stability for our family, he never really wanted kids, but he like really loved our mom.

And so it was like, don't exist, don't make any noise. And like the rule for me was no singing in the house. And like singing was the one thing that brought me so much joy. And so that was pretty tough. That was like an actual rule. That was wild. Yeah, no singing in the house.

And so I really started to develop just like some anger issues. And like I mentioned earlier, like that hard heart. And so I developed this hard heart, even around music and around singing. And so just like pain and music just were like synonymous. And it was something I was celebrated for in school, but punished for at home.

And so, yeah, I just got really hard and I started doing self-harm and really just started doing bad in school and nobody really knew why. Cause at school I was just like, that's kind of where I would flourish with friends. And I was happy there and not happy at home, but yeah, nobody understood like what was going on

in my home life and what was going on inside of me. I got invited to church camp at 12 years old and that was incredible encounter for me. First off, like the love of the counselors, they were just like, Jamie, who are you? Like, we love you, tell us all about you. And you know, it was like the singing was so encouraged at camp too.

So we just like sang nonstop. And I felt God's love for me and learned about God's love for me kind of for the first time. And I just never forgot that feeling. There was a sermon. It's funny because I can't always remember a sermon from like last week, but I never forgot the sermon when I was like 12 years old. That's for you, yeah. Yeah. And there was like this illustration of the A plan and the B plan that God,

like God's A plan for your life. And then like sometimes we get lost and end up on the B plan, which is, you know, getting into the wrong crowd and experimenting with whatever drugs, alcohol, that was kind of the age where I was starting to get into temptation with that. And so I really just clung to that message and my best friend and I gave our lives to Jesus at camp together.

And from leaving camp, I just got right back into the same home situation and I really struggled to just feel understood. And I kind of fell off the deep end pretty bad and got in the wrong crowd, started doing drugs a lot more and skipping school and ended up in a group home. And so that was just like kind of my teen years

was in and out of group homes. And then I ended up dropping out of high school. I lived with my aunt for a while and then just kind of went off on my own and started staying the night with random people and going to parties. There were times I had nowhere to go and you know, people would be like, where are we dropping you off at?

And I, you know, just like, I don't live anywhere, you know? So that was like really rough on my identity. So for about five years I lived like that. Where it just slipped. You're a teen years too. Yeah. Y'all summer workouts just hit different, am I right? The temps are up, the sweat is real and staying on top of hydration is key. That's where Element comes in, especially their new Lemonade Salt flavor. It is salty, tart and seriously refreshing and it is a

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Dang. Yeah. When you were like at that age, even before you went to camp, you said like music and pain were synonymous. Like what did that, before having Christ, because now knowing your songs, you have such a way of like bringing pain in,

but it's like the redemption side. But what did it look like before the redemption side? Like, was it getting out your emotion because you didn't have the space to do that in front of other people. Like what did that processing look like for you? You mean to like get to where it is now? Or even like back in the day, like music,

cause you talk about having music as like a kid, but it was like furnished in the home, it flourished in school. What was music to you without the faith component of music? Just a way to express my feelings cause I felt felt so suppressed. Even just I felt like I didn't have a voice, and I was silenced at home.

And so I would just put on headphones and get lost in Mariah Carey. And some of it was stuff that I couldn't even relate to as a kid, just love songs or whatever. But when I was a teen, the Alicia Keys record was, I don't remember what year that came out, but I remember I was kind of going through like a heartbreak and that record just like,

I tapped into like the deepest emotions I've ever felt, you know, and just like she said every word I needed to hear. And so I would sing along to that and really learned how to sing too by listening to them. And I would actually go out in the woods and sing. So like behind our house, there was like this trail that led down to this river. And I would just run down that trail every day

and just go sing out there, go climb trees and sing in the trees. Wow, I love this. I still do that. Hey. It's still a big part of my life. I did that. Like there's a spot for me.

We grew up at a summer camp and there's like a place in the woods at that camp that I have gone back to as an adult. And that's like my, no one in the world knows where I am right now. No one in the world can hear me. And I can sing as loud as I want to. I can pray as loud as I want to.

And it just like brings you to like your roots and your faith. So I actually so relate to to. And it just brings you to your roots and your faith. So I actually so relate to that. And I think it's cool, because this is obviously gonna air a different day, but we both know Ms. Tara. And Ms. Tara was talking about when people go through hard times in life,

and they're like, God, where were you? And she's like, he was there. And it's cool to look back, think back at your life, and that was in some some really rough moments, but the gift God gave you was in you and he was using that to comfort you even before you knew it was like attached to him giving it to you.

You know, like music was still a gift and it was still something that was like getting you through some dark stuff. So you go to camp, you give your life to the Lord, which I love that, because I'm such a camp girl. And man, it's so cool because counselors and stuff like that, just people loving you and seeing you can go such a long way. But then you get back and go right back into it. Did you feel convicted? Or were you just like, that wasn't real? Forget it. What was that?

No, it was so real. And even the like stayed with me. I remembered the songs so well and my best friend and I kind of both went down different paths but like in beginning of high school like we would be at a party and you know, we'd run into each other and both of us just like obligerant like just had drank all night and we'd find each other and be like, hey, we gotta get back on the A plan. You know, and we'd just grab each other's shoulders like,

don't forget the A plan. And you know, just like always this thing, and her and I are still best friends to this day. So we've walked through so many moments in life together, but we both got very off track for a number of years, and it was always that A plan, like we'd write each other, you know, notes or send each other letters in the mail, every birthday card, it's like at the bottom,

it's just like, the A plan. So it was something cool that God gave us and now we're both on another sober journey together. So we've both just hit our, I think, six or seven years sober together. So it's just like fun that we've had each other to walk through the gift. That is so cool. Okay, so you mentioned you were living in group homes and not really having a place to live and I heard in your story, because I did

listen to a podcast, that you ended up living with some drug dealers for a while. How did that take a turn? Like how did you get involved with that and what around what age was that? So when I dropped out of high school, I was maybe about to turn 16. And I was already hanging around drug dealers and just people that do drugs, because I was doing drugs. And so that kind of just became a family to me. And it really, they were good to me.

They had my back. They took care of me. I didn't have a job. I didn't have anything of my own. So it was like a support for me and it did feel like a family. And those were my friends and they happened to be drug dealers.

And also, it was just a party lifestyle. So we were just constantly partying. There was like a hip hop culture theme. So I was the girl voice on a lot of rap music at the time. I was still pretty shy about singing because I just been through so much, like I said, pain with music and it was just confusing. But if I would drink enough, they could get me to sing in like the studio. So it's just like, you know, liquor and whatever. And then I had, they'd pushed me in there to sing some stuff. And it honestly like wasn't, a lot of it wasn't terrible

as far as like, you know, I wasn't on like crack in some alley, like we were just partying really hard. And, but I got so tired of that lifestyle. And I saw some of my friends overdose. Some of my friends went to prison and it just like, it's a very tiring lifestyle too. And I was sitting in our house one day, because we were kind of like the hub for all of it, because we had the drugs and stuff, and people would just

come party and pass out everywhere. And I would hear the Holy Spirit speak to me, I'd get just like in a stare, and I would zone out into my own thoughts, and I would just be reminded of what God said to me as a young girl and I would hear the Holy Spirit say, this isn't the end of your story. I've got a plan for your life and this is not it. And I just started listening to that voice and just like, okay, God, if you really could get me out of this lifestyle, what would that look like? Because I had burned every other bridge,

I didn't have anywhere to go. And I would just be reminded of that, like what would that look like? Because I had burned every other bridge. I didn't have anywhere to go. And I began to like read my Bible in the mornings. Secretly, I'd wake up and read the Word, and I got invited to church one Sunday, and the pastor just said everything,

just like called out everything that was going on in my world. It's just like, so God, to whatever message he gave that pastor that day was like, specifically for me, I know it was. And I was like, Whoa, this is real. Like God is real. And he's really talking to me. And so I just got more and more curious about that voice and in that lifestyle. And I ended up, in order to get out of that situation, I ended up in a rescue mission shelter because I really had nowhere to go. And I just knew I had to get out of there immediately.

And so I ended up in a rescue mission. And then from there, I started, I ended up living with a friend and kind of got out of that lifestyle. And then slowly but surely just started attending churches and I got right into mission work. So after my best friend and I got baptized together at 21 years old.

And then from there, I just got on mission teams. I went to Africa right away. And that was like a pretty cool pivot, pivotal moment for me singing for the Lord because they pushed me up to preach when I was in Africa because they're just like, hey, this, surely if they've sent you this far, you must have the word of the Lord.

Like why else would they send you? You're the anointed one. And I'm like, I promise I don't know the Bible. I just became a Christian. Like, and so I just started singing instead because everybody was just like standing there staring at me and I knew I didn't know how to preach. And so I just started belting out this gospel song,

no musicians around. And the way that God just blessed that moment, it's just like something unlocked in me and I'm like, okay, I was made to do this. And they all started singing along and it was just like this huge moment of praise. And so from there, I was in Africa for a month. So from there, I moved back to Michigan

and joined a worship team. Oh my gosh. And something really beautiful is my mom remarried again, and this time a worship leader. So she turned her life around, gave her life to Jesus, and now the house is filled with music, and I'm now on a worship team with my mom and my new stepdad.

So full circle, very redemptive moment. That's crazy, from no singing in the house to worship leader, you're all worship leading together. That's unbelievable, that is so cool. It's so cool that you started hearing the Holy Spirit speak to you. Did you know it was the Holy Spirit at the time? I did, yeah, because I never forgot

what he spoke to me as a young girl. And so even at my lowest moments throughout those five years that I was just at rock bottom, I would think of those camp songs and I would hear him speak to me in different moments. But at that one point, I was so tired of that lifestyle and it was just, you know, ready.

It was just time, yeah. And it was like, okay, I'm ready to actually listen to this voice and really follow God's plan. And I didn't know how to get out and that was one of the hardest things. It's like, where am I gonna go and what am I I gonna do? And God just like every little step I took, He would bless it. And then He put more family around me through the body of Christ. Wow.

And suddenly I'm, you know, moving to different cities and people are like, come live with us. Yeah. Like, we believe in you. And, you know, I started recording and writing my own songs and people would just, I did like crowdfunding. So I did two records, totally unexpected, but people just donated and said, Hey, we believe in you. Like, and just got me along the way with music. It's so cool.

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has for you. So like, I think this is such a lie so many people believe is like, I'm too far gone, you know, for God to love me. I'm like, that just doesn't even check out at all with the story of the gospel, right? Because like, this is why Jesus came and who Jesus met with and all the different things. Did you ever go through the wrestle of feeling that way of like, I'm too far gone? Or did when you started hearing that voice, you believed the voice? Because I think that's a lot of times people feel like,

oh, I know I need to get my life back on plan A or I know I need to get, but I can't because I've done X, Y, Z. Obviously that's not truth. But I just wonder if you ever felt that way or if you were like, no, I actually need to get out of this. And it was just like, I'm doing it. I think like the years that I was dropped out of high school,

I really thought there was no hope for my life. I just, I didn't even know how to look a week ahead. I was like, how am I gonna get through this one day? And so there's definitely times even throughout after getting saved that I didn't feel good enough. And I'm trying to step into my calling and just having like feeling like my whole past is still hanging over me. And it's taken so many years to really like

feel like I belong, feel like a daughter, feel like someone who has something to say and it's worth listening to. And so for me, like with my music, it's been this really cool And so for me, like with my music, it's been this really cool way to like speak the truth over myself. And like my heart is to make sure others know like who God says they are. And like even my first single, just like it's not too late and your story's not over. Like that's what I hope to do with people who

are where I was. It's just like reach back and be like, hey, I was there, and God can do anything and even great things with a story like yours if you let him. So encouraging, because people watching this podcast right now are probably like, whoa, I was not expecting that. Because when you look at you, you're stunning, you have the cutest style, you have the most incredible voice.

I see you reading your Bible back there. And so to hear the pastor, it's like, whoa, look at what God can do. Because a lot of times you just look at somebody, you're like, oh, they just got it. They just got it. And it's like cool to hear you go, oh no, I had to work for years to overcome those insecurities

of am I enough, am I this? Well, I think some people just, you know, you look at your story and I could never, then you hear yours, you're like, oh, okay, maybe I could, you know? I love your song, A Million Chances. Is that the song you were referring to? So good. Talk to me about writing that song and singing that song, what that looks like. Well, a few years ago, I was living in Georgia,

kind of an interesting chapter, but I moved to Georgia during the pandemic to help look after my dad, kind of reunited with him after years of not seeing him because he kind of never came back around after they divorced when we were young. And he had Parkinson's and dementia. So I moved there and spent some years with him

until he passed. And around like the time that he got on hospice, I was really struggling. I was the only person in Georgia. I didn't have any like family or anything. And so I was just hopeless and really fighting, you know, just like so many, so much grief and feeling alone. And I got invited to sing in a prison and I hadn't done any singing in quite a few years. I think I was going

on about four years that I hadn't sang anywhere or written any songs for myself. And when I got to the prison, I was kind of walking down the hallway to meet the choir for the first time, because there was a music program. And I started to hear the song playing, and it turns out they were performing one of my songs. And as I came in the room,

like there are all these faces singing my song to me. And I just like started weeping. And it was like the most hope I had felt in so many years. And I was like, I'm supposed to be here. And so my time with them really kind of awakened my love for music again. And A Million Chances was the first song I wrote as I was like, okay, I wanna sing again.

I wanna let God use me again. And I had already talked with record labels years prior and just didn't find what felt like a good fit for me in the music industry. And little did I know God wanted to walk me through a five-year healing journey with my dad and heal some stuff that was probably gonna prevent me from really being able to step into my calling

and probably why for years, why it took me so many years to really be ready to share. That was like the final piece I felt like. And so after that experience with my dad and then being reawakened for my love for music in the prisons, it was just like, the songs just started coming. And so I was able to write so many songs out of that season and I still am. But yeah, so that the million

chances song is definitely from my prison experience. And that's really cool. The cool thing about them is they, although they're in prison and you know, they're, it's almost like, are you getting a million chances? Like, you got locked up for the one thing you did, but they found Jesus in there. And so for them, that's like their second chance and that's their chance at like, they're living like full lives in there and they're shining and they love the Lord.

And they carried me through that season with my dad. Like I wasn't serving them, they were serving me. It was a beautiful experience. So yeah. So cool. It's so true. I've done some prison ministry and some of those real deal believers, you know,

in prison, because it's their hope and they found that to be the truest thing about their life and their future. And yeah, you're administered to your like, whoa, I needed to see that, you know? I think people have the perspective of that, like is there, and it's like no, it's so much deeper than that on a spiritual level.

That's so cool. I think one of the things that people feel pressured in is to hurry up and do the record, or hurry up and write the book and hurry up. And it's like all these people in your 20s feel like you have to do all these things. And there's something so beautiful to letting life happen and letting God mature you and redeem things and heal you.

And then like actually have the story to share. So like time is not the enemy, like time is truly a gift in those things. And I felt like that recently because I've been doing what I'm doing since I was really young, you know, because my family's TV show happened when I was like 14. And then quickly, two years later, I wrote my first book. I was like barely even 16. I don't think I had turned 16 yet.

I was 15 when I started writing it. And it just kind of like snowballed in a good way. But I just kept doing, doing, doing, doing. And then finally, it just caught up with me where I felt like anything that I studied, I had to write. Anything that I read in the Bible, I had to put out. And it got to the point where I was just feeling like, man, I'm empty.

I'm just, it's just going ping, ping, and it's not actually penetrating my heart. Like I'm not meditating on it. And I felt like when I would sometimes read stuff I put out, I'm like, I don't even know that message. Like, because I didn't live it yet. I just wrote it. And finally, with this next book that I'm working on,

I just told the like editors in my book publishing team, I was like, I cannot have a timeline on this. And to say that to the publishing world, I'm sure you know this, in the music world, that's a hard thing to say, because they're always like, it's got to come out, it's got to happen. And they're great people, don't mean any harm by it. That's just the industry. And I was like, no, I can't. And I was like, cause I have to live life to have a story to share it. I have to live more life.

And it's just been so cool. I don't know why I feel teary, but I do, because this, I told my husband this literally yesterday. I was like, this is the first time in so long that I have been reading the Bible just for myself. And it has been the most, like, it's just been so good for my soul. It has been refreshing me in so many ways.

I feel like I could write stuff, but I'm not going to, because I don't have the time to right now. And that's okay, because it's just for me right now and for my family and for my kids and for the person that I am. And it's just brought me right now and for my family and for my kids and for the person that I am. And it's just brought me, my relationship with the Lord, like so much deeper and so much closer. And so I think it's like so cool that you had five years

that were hard, like not neglecting the fact that that had to have been so hard to watch your dad watching my grandparents go through all that reason. That's been so hard. Hard years, but years to just be with the Lord before your music is taking off now. And now it's so cool that these words that are so true for you and true for those ladies in prison. Y'all, my best health buddy AG1 just leveled up big time. It is the same easy one scoop a day routine we've always loved, but now it is totally upgraded with more advanced vitamins,

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So anyways, just had to kind of go down that rabbit trail. I love that. Because that spoke to me. I'm like, man, those private moments or those hidden years are so valuable and people look over them so often. I love that. Man, there's so many places,

so many things I want to ask you about your story that are so interesting to me. One is that you literally became a believer and went to Africa. That in and of itself is so awesome because it seems a believer and went to Africa. That in and of itself is so awesome because it seems like you just dove all in. Like you were like not necessarily a believer. You always kind of knew who God was but not you know following God and then all of a sudden you're like okay go to church. I

believe this. Worship lead and go to Africa and I love the all-in factor because the truth is like I let people listen to this Pike as they're a Christian but they're still at the parties going, there's a plan A for my life, but I'll get there one day. You know, like that's a lot of people's story. That's a lot of people's story right now listening to this podcast. How did you go from like, I know God,

I know what I'm supposed to do. Like, what do you feel like inside you went, okay, now I'm all in. I'm not gonna do this halfway. I'm not just gonna be a Christian and just go to church. Like, I'm like 100%. What did that feel like inside you went, okay, now I'm all in, I'm not gonna do this halfway, I'm not just gonna be a Christian and just go to church, like I'm like 100%. What did that look like for you and how would you encourage other people

in that middle zone? Well, for me, it was like I had lived most of my life in darkness, you know, and I had seen the power of darkness and the power of what the devil had been up to in destroying my life. So by the time I tasted any bit of the light, I was just like all in on that. And I wanted nothing from my past.

And I didn't change completely overnight. There was still some habits and things that I had to work out. But the Lord was so kind and just like, it was like one thing at a time. And He didn't rush me, and didn't shame me for right where I was at. But it was like, when I was born again, like when I went under for getting baptized, like when I came out, it's like that, you feel like that seed is

planted, like that spiritual seed where it's like, I'm a new creation and I'm starting as a baby now. And so it was just like, I could feel that the spirit in me telling me like, this isn't for you. And my desires changed. And I paid attention to that where it's like, you could do this or you could give me this and I'm gonna take you higher. I'm gonna take you to the next thing.

And so it's just been a beautiful journey of trading. It's cool. If you give me this, just lay things down and say, God, there's nothing I don't wanna give you because my way sucked. And my flesh tempts me to wanna do the thing that destroys me.

And so it was just like, sometimes I would choose the wrong thing, but then the way I feel after is just like, okay, I learned by that. And like, okay, I don't want that. I actually wanna choose life. So just like, it's really taken so many years, but I do feel, I just love that feeling of like choosing life

and having just like a clear conscience and a clean heart and then seeing him open up things in my life that I don't feel worthy of, but he's just like, this is where I wanna take you next. You know, and it's like, okay. It's so good. When people think about giving up sin, giving up addiction, giving up things in the flesh,

you think about how hard it's gonna be, but then you don't often think about the blessing on the other side. Like a clear conscience, like peace when you go to bed at night, like a true body of joy, like a healthy body. Like, you know, the path of life that doesn't lead to death. You know, the path of life that leads to life. And I always feel like sometimes as a church,

it's just like, oh, don't do this, don't do this. And it's like, okay, yes, don't do that, but here's why. Look at the beauty on the other side that you actually get to live in when you walk in the Spirit. And to be completely honest, it's like, no, you're not gonna be perfect, and that's okay. And it's not that you feel shame, you feel convicted,

and what a gift that is to say, you're better than that. I'm gonna get back on the right track now. I'm gonna deny my flesh, I'm gonna get back on the right track now. I mean, you know, deny my flesh, I'm gonna pursue the spirit. And so I love that, I think that's beautiful. You know, your song, Desperate, is like blown up and it's so good, oh my gosh. Thank you.

First of all, your voice, wow. But also just the words ring so true. And I feel like if those who are listening who are huge fans of yours would be like, you have to answer about this song. So tell me about writing that song. Was it in the same season? Yeah, so I had just lost my dad

about a year and a half or a year before that. And I moved back to Nashville. I had like a conversation going still with a couple of record labels, not about me being an artist, but just I was doing a lot of stuff for TV and film and doing like artist alias, like singing songs that you would never think is me

because it's not my actual artistry, but just like different things. Always like inspirational stuff that I would like stand by message wise. But I was just creating still. And moved back to Nashville and my record label now was like, hey, we're interested in signing you. And I was like, I'm really going through a lot right now.

I just lost my dad. I'm coming out of like five years of isolation. I just didn't feel like the time to step into the spotlight in any way for me. And I started just kind of taking it slow. I got into writing rooms and I was writing every day of the week for about six months straight. But every time I showed up, you know, everyone's like,

tell us who you are, like, where are you at in life? And oh, how exciting, like you're signing a record deal. And I'm just like, honestly, I'm so broken. And this is what I just went through. And I mean, I don't, hopefully I didn't tell them the whole story cause that's a lot, but just like, you know, I'm just coming out of a crazy season and, um, I'm grieving and you know, everybody was so kind and they're just like, let's, let's dive into that. Like let's write about that.

And some of them felt like counseling sessions where, you know, I'm crying, people are sharing wisdom and we're getting songs that are so beautiful. But the day we wrote desperate, I showed up in the studio and it was a good friend of mine, Jonathan Gamble and Jordan Sapp, and Jonathan had an idea, and he said, I'd like to write a song called Desperate. And I was like, oof, I know how that feels. And it was just like, I could tell it from the beginning,

God wanted me to sing this song, you know? And it's like a message that I had been living and I felt like it was the words that I needed for so many years, living with my dad and taking care of him. And I was the most desperate I'd ever been. And so it was so beautiful to finally be able to express how that felt and it was the right timing.

And so, and Jonathan actually, him and his wife weren't able to have a baby. And so that was kind of where the idea started with him, just crying out to God for a miracle. And it was like, let's give people a tool to cry out to God with all their heart, you know, and to be bold before the throne, like, this is what I need. And I'm not asking, I'm begging.

And so. And then backing it up with like, Who God is is so cool. And aspect of the song, like, I know you can do this. That's why I'm begging you to do it. It's so beautifully written, and you can tell you lived it.

It's like the homeless man's advice to you. It's like, you lived it, and so it holds weight when you sing it. It's so good. So you just went on your first tour. Yeah. How fun was that? It was so fun.

I was in two vans with a bunch of young dudes, and I felt like it was like a rite of passage, because I was like, okay, we're not sleeping. Rarely showering. You gotta start scrappy. You gotta start scrappy. You're not just starting by just being the first tour, it's always a little scrappy. Yes, and you know, just like hotel rooms, never know what you're gonna get.

But it was so fun and really just became like a family. And one cool thing is like, people really kind of scare you about the music industry. Like even before signing, just like hearing all these stories. And it's like, scared me a little bit. And even going on tour, it's like, you hear stories about that too, even Christian tours where it's like, oh, that's like my old life that I don't want, you know? But this tour was so pure. And it was just like, seeing the way these guys

and even Seth Schlieder, who was like the headliner for the tour, the way he led the team was just so pure. And God really showed me like what it could be rather than me just carrying all these like stories and things that I was afraid of. Like, I guess I'll try to like carry the weight spiritually like once when I have my own tour one day, like I might just have to be okay with people living,

you know, a certain way that it's maybe my old life that I didn't want to be around. I just thought I was gonna have a lot of compromises, but after seeing this, I was just like, wow, this was such a pure godly time, and it was fun, and we laughed nonstop, but it was just so fulfilling spiritually, and we prayed so much together. They were just like, hey, let's all just pray,

and I was just like, really? That is so great. It was were just like, hey, let's all just pray. And I was like, really? Like, it was very cool. And yeah, God centered and everybody's heart was in it. Yeah. You've got unlimited access to music, but time, now that's limited. The PC Insiders World's Elite MasterCard gets you unlimited PC Optima points, free

grocery delivery, and time back for what matters. Save time and earn $1,100 in average value each year. The PC Insider's World's Elite MasterCard, the card for living unlimited. Conditions apply to all benefits. Visit PCFinancial.ca for details. Value is for illustrative purposes only. And to be honest, like, that fear is so real in so many things.

Like, I think about marriage. People scare you to death going into marriage. Just like, you get engaged and everyone's like, let me tell you how hard the first year's gonna be. Right. Let me tell you how hard, you know. Right. And I'm like, do I wanna get married?

Because it seems really scary and hard. Obviously, yes. But it's like, people warn you so much, you know? And then you have to realize like, oh, it's my life It's my marriage. It's based off my decisions Like I have a lot to do with how this turns out, you know and so it was interesting for Christian and I because our first year of marriage was actually great like we Enjoyed each other's company. We

Loved each other like and then a couple years in, we went through something hard together. And that was like our harder year. And we know we'll have many other hard years, but we're like, OK, we also get to make our own decisions and then control that. And God is God and he's in our life and we're following his path. So like just because it's that person's story doesn't mean it's our story. People do the same thing with having kids. Oh, when you have kids, your life is life is over when you have kids say goodbye to travel

Well, we have kids and we travel everywhere our kids, you know, yeah, is it crazy? Yes, is it sometimes embarrassing in airports whenever both? Yes, you know like there is that But it's like you you get to have control of that My mom always would say you can only control you, you know? And that is like a beautiful aspect. You can't control what happens in life, but you can control the way you respond to it. And to be honest, like I never, ever, ever, ever,

ever talk about this because it's not even a big deal. But my first tour when I moved to Nashville, I was super young and I had signed with a company and it was shocking because it was bad and there was so much behind the scenes that I was like oh my gosh I was just I was devastated because I went into it wanting it to be pure and I actually didn't even consider that it ever wouldn't have been I didn't get the warning no one told me I wasn't around enough people to know I was too young

and I was from here and I moved there and went into it and I was like, oh my gosh, is everybody like this? Is this how everybody thinks? And got a little scared of trusting people for a while and I realized, no, it's not the way everybody is. It's the way some people are and it's very unfortunate. But it's not the way everybody is and it's not the way you have to be, you know? And I had to restructure a lot of things and get out of that agreement and all the different things. But now the main comment people give

every time they come to LO Conference and our backstage is to say, this is the purest conference. And like just that we're pure. I'm like, oh, thank you God. Like it can be, you know, these things because that's who you are and that's who you are in us. And I just love that.

And so, yeah, I think a lot of people, whether you're in an industry setting or just in life, people scare you about how life is gonna be. You have to remember, okay, I serve the God who says, do not fear, I am with you. And I'm gonna lead you and guide you and be your sustainer and your helper and your guide and your guard and all the different things.

And so it's really, it's good stuff. I wanna ask you too, just what it's like leading over people, like you're leading people through testimonies. What has that been like from the perspective of like, at one point in your life needing to be led in worship, now leading other people in worship, what's the joy in that? It's honestly been pretty intimidating,

just cause I feel like if I would have waited till I felt ready, I never would have done it. Yeah. You know, and I've really just started telling my story in the past, maybe six months or so. Really? Yeah. I didn't know that.

I didn't know this was like fresh. Yeah, since releasing music and signing is when I really started sharing my story publicly for the first time. So it's been a healing journey for me. And what's cool is like, I'm stepping in being like, I don't know if I'm saying it right. And I don't always remember the timelines perfectly.

And some of that's blurry because of the substance abuse. So like, I'm like, is my story gonna check out? Like, did I say this age and then this age? I just like worry about a lot of the- That happens to me too. That literally happens to me. When I first started speaking, my brother would be like, that's not how it happened.

I'd be like, it's not how it happened? I actually thought that's how it happened. And then you're like in your head because you just told so many people how it happened and someone corrected you. Yeah. Oh yeah, I totally get that. And it happened. And then you're like in your head because you just told so many people how it happened and someone corrected you. Oh yeah, I totally get that. And I wasn't even substance abuse. That's just me being dumb.

I'm like, that makes me feel better. Really? No, grace in being human. Okay, good. But yeah, it was more like the logistical, like am I a good communicator? But what God's been showing me in the past, even just since going on this tour,

getting here real feedback in real time, because I'm sharing my testimony from stage and people are coming up and they're not talking about my singing and my songs as much as they're saying, thank you for sharing your story. That's the part that hit me. And you know, my son was next to me and he was bawling and he never cries.

Like, so it's like, God keeps highlighting the story part and that's where I feel like that's my weakest part. And so now I'm just excited to share because despite how weak I feel while trying to communicate and share because I don't have a high school diploma and all the reasons why I don't feel like I should be speaking,

God is just saying, I want to use that. Like I want to use your weakness to show myself strong. That's so good. The enemy will be defeated by the blood of the lamb and the power of the testimony. And it is so true. And I can relate to you so much because I barely finished high school. I mean, truly, they should not look back at my records because maybe I shouldn't have had a diploma. Because it was such a crazy time in our family's life

and I was homeschooled and it, like half homeschooled, half going to school, I had a worker's permit. It was so weird. And so I missed so much. When I took my ACT, I remember going into the bathroom and my friend saying, oh, I know for sure I missed three.

And I said, I don't even think there was three I knew. Like there's not three questions on there that I knew. Like I was totally and I said, I don't even think there was three I knew. There's not three questions on there that I knew. I was totally just guessing game, A, B, C, D, filling in, you know? So I felt that for years when I started speaking. I'm not smart enough, I'm not communicating well enough, I'm not good enough, all the different things. And I remember I used to make jokes all the time

about me not really finishing high school very well and being dumb and I would talk about being dyslexic and just like all that insecurities and I would like make it funny though. Like I'd make it a joke. And finally two of my friends, they said, hey, it's not funny when you say that. And I was like, it caught me off guard.

I said, it's not funny whenever you make fun of yourself. Like I know that you use that as kind of like a crutch and these are two of my best friends. They had the right to say it. And I was like, yeah, I was like, you're right. It's not funny. And I'm like, and it's actually not funny to me either. I just do that because I'm insecure, you know?

And I was like, I'm gonna stop doing that because I am not school smart, but like the Holy Spirit has filled me with wisdom, you know? And I love the Word. And I'm reading the Word and I might not have gone to seminary school and I might not know everything there is about it, but I can read it for what it is. And I always think about it, it's Apollos and it says like he was teaching the Word and all he knew about it was from John's baptism. And then it was like Priscilla and Aquila

like brought him in and they taught him a little bit more and then he like kept teaching and I felt like I can relate to that so much. He's like he knew the testimony and that's enough to preach and they weren't shaming him saying like hey you're not smart enough you're not good enough. They're like hey let me teach you a little more and they like taught him a little more and then he kept continuing to preach and then Paul is over here going hey Apoll Apollos is planting the seeds, I'm watering the ground.

Like, you know, they're working together. And these are two guys who weren't, like they had past, they, you know, just, Apollos was young, but yeah, they had everything that they needed to preach the gospel because they were filled with the Spirit. And that is you, friend. Like you got this.

And I always tell people this too, whenever they're singing or telling their story, and it feels so vulnerable, like to write a book or write a song or whatever. And you think, like people are thinking about my voice, people are thinking about my song, people are thinking about my words, and they're not. People are thinking about themselves in a good way.

They're going, how can those words relate to me? How can this story relate to me? So they're not going, Jamie, my gosh, what a story. Like you were crazy, they're like, oh, I gosh what a story like you're you were crazy. They're like, oh I'm I live that way. I live that way. That's redemption you know. And it's just so cool when you're able to give your life to God and get out of the way and let God use your story for His kingdom. It's beautiful to see that awaken people in their own lives. And I was a fan of you before, I'm a bigger

fan of you now. Thank you so much, Julie, for sharing your story. I can't believe you've only been doing this, like sharing your story for six months. You're a pro, you're seasoned, and just everything you're doing with your music, cheering you on big time. Thanks so much. Thanks for having me.