WHOA That's Good Podcast - How God Will Use Your Brokenness | Sadie Robertson Huff & Anne Wilson

Episode Date: July 20, 2022

Chart-topping Christian artist Anne Wilson opens up to Sadie about the tragic death of her brother and the incredible ways God used her pain to impact others. Anne talks about the unexpected way she launched her music career, finding her purpose, the heart behind her hit song "My Jesus," and discovering that God truly can use anything and anyone for good. Friends, even in seasons of pain and brokenness, God is with you and working through you. Anne's album, "My Jesus," is available now on all streaming platforms. https://athleticgreens.com/whoa — Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D & 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase! https://liberty.edu/Sadie — Get your application fee WAIVED when you start your future with Liberty University today! https://www.reliefband.com — Get 20% off plus FREE shipping with code WHOA! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's up, fam? Welcome back to Will. That's good. Wednesday. Happy Wednesday, everybody. Y'all, we have a special guest today. I'm super excited. But once again, just one of our mind-jellic conferences right around the corner.

August 19th and 20th of the Monroe, Louisiana Civic Center, where I grew up and where Christian and I live. We're so excited We cannot wait to host all of you here. Don't forget to buy your ticket today at elocisterconference.com and make your plans to get here in person with us. We're so excited. Now without further ado, welcoming our guest on the podcast. Y'all she is an incredible person and incredible singer and incredible artist. I'm sure you have Janmed in the car to her song my Jesus So excited to have and will sit on the podcast welcome to the podcast

I'm so excited to be here. Thanks for having me. Guys, it's awesome and throwback to just what was that two months ago And I got to hand you an o K level award. So this is super fun That's so fun. That was so fun. That was so real for me. That was so awesome. And by the way, I hope no one who performed is listening to this, but when we left, Christian was like, and Wilson was the best performance. I was like, she was, she was so good. I know it was awesome. That's so sweet. That was so good. Wow. Well, okay, I asked this question to everyone on the world. That's good podcast. That was so good. Wow. Well, okay, I asked this question to everyone on the world. That's good pie cast, but what is the best piece of advice that you've ever been given

or jumping right in? Wow. That's hard. It is hard. It'll stump you. It does. So my mom is like a huge part of my testimony and just she's just been really incredible and just kind of helping me with my faith journey and

laying that foundation for me growing up. I would say one of the best pieces of advice she's given me it sounds cliche but just that for me to keep Jesus first in front and center and I grew up in a Christian house and say like I heard that a lot, but it has some power and it's so true that I can keep Jesus front and center of your life. Everything else kind of just falls into place. And if you keep your aspects on him,

everything's gonna work out. And so I think that's been something that I've kind of clung to my whole life and really just held on to, is just keeping Jesus first, no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at me and just having that perspective. That's good. I love that because the reason why it's so cool to ask such influential people, like what's the best piece of advice you were given is because when you say that advice, it normally is so obvious already. Like, because that is shaped you so much. And you're a lot of what you're known for

is literally your song, My Jesus. So the fact that like the best he's ever spoken to you is Cuban Jesus first. And that's been like such a, you know, strong thing in your life is really incredible. I love that. All right, so I wanna get to know your story a little bit more.

So I heard that your mom kind of is the one that made you start taking piano lessons. But did you always like music? Was that something you thought you wanted to do or not so much? Is it more like something you had to do? Yeah, so my mom like first needed to take piano lessons. It was so miserable. I hated it. She made me and my sister for Amargo, they're taking the lessons. So it was something that like I grew up in a church that we didn't

have like we didn't seem like Christian contemporary songs, we only saying hymns. And so part of that was why she wanted me to play the piano so that I could play the piano at church one day. And that was her beta stream. And so yeah, I didn't enjoy music. I listened to Christian Radio in the car, but that was kind of it. And I mean, I really did not have a passion for music at all growing up. I enjoyed listening to music.

I just didn't really like having to sit down and practice the piano and like work on it as like a craft or a hobby or anything. Well, that's crazy. So that's funny because I grew up in a church where we just sang hymns as well. And I would listen to the radio Christian music sometimes. But then whenever I'm at like eyes are open to really worship

out there, I remember like the first time I was like, wait, Hillsong worship, what is this? It was like, whoa, this is so good. Yes, and I was like 17, you know, when I really started hearing all of this music. and now I'm like, that wasn't that long ago, but my mom was like blown. So I have a similar upbringing. So did you like sing a lot whenever you were a little or not really? Was that not really your thing? No, I'm never singing in front of anyone. I didn't have a passion or desire to sing at all. And yeah, I mean,

I was singing the choir, I guess, a church, but that was kind of my extent of singing. Well, and so I've read somewhere or heard you say that you actually wanted to be an astronaut. Yes, that's epic. I know. I wanted to work for NASA. It was just like my biggest dream. That is epic. Were you good at that? Was that something like were you good at math and science or were you just like a space kid? I was always very like, I guess, naturally gifted at math and science. And I was horrible at writing.

But like I couldn't write a paper. I was just like so bad in that area that it was like natural for a lot of science. So that's kind of where my love, I guess, started was it became natural. And I was like, I love Jesus. I wanted to explore his creation. And then I just was fascinated with space

and learning as much as I could about it. And so it kind of was the only thing that made sense in my mind. When I thought about my future of what I wanted to do was like that was what I wanted to do. And that made sense to me. And that crazy, it's like, you know, some things that make sense to us.

And we're like, oh, well, this makes sense that this is what's gonna happen. And God's like, nope. But that's when faith comes into play. You know, that's when a faith comes into play, which is really cool. So obviously your life didn't go that well. hey it's not over yet you could still be an astronaut if you so desired. But obviously you're doing something completely different.

And I know there's a pivotal point in your life when your life took a turn and you realize God was calling you something different. So you want to share a little bit about your story whenever your life really changed. Yeah, absolutely. I know you probably hear this a lot, but I'm just going to say, I grew up watching Doug Dynasty. And it would sweet about that as me and my brother would watch it together.

And so it's just so cool that we're doing this podcast today because it's like, you and my brother have that connection. And now that we have this connection, this is really cool. But yeah, yeah, so my brother passed away in a car accident in 2017, he was 23 years old, I was 15 at the time, he was eight years older than me.

And it was the most tragic time in my entire life. Leasing Jacob was very, it was a very pivotal moment in my walk with Jesus and just my walk in life. It changed my entire perspective on life. Talked me how to really value life in each day that God gives us and to keep my attention and my focus on heaven. And that was really, I was just a really hard season.

But through Leasing Jacob, God called me to music and kind of placed this desire to worship him in my heart that I had never had. So I remember four days after my brother passed away, I was downstairs at my piano, you know, playing the piano because I knew how to play and then singing. And I'd never seen anyone before my mom and dad had never even been with me sing. And so I was sitting down and just worshiping and you mentioned Hillsong earlier, I was singing, what a beautiful name, my Hillsong. And I was just worshiping and my mom comes in the room and she's freaking out. And we didn't know you could sing. Like where is this all coming from?

And I was like, mom, I do not sing. I do not know if this is. And I was just basically, I'm just worshiping Jesus right now. So she asks me if all I'd be willing to sing at my brother's funeral because we couldn't find anyone to sing. So I think I'm praying to him and just spending time with Jesus and really felt like I was being called to sing at the funeral.

So I decided to go out some friends together and we sang what a beautiful name at my brother's funeral. There were 1200 people there, completely packed out. And I just remember like the annual on that stage, helping piano, sitting down and looking out into the 1200 people and then seeing my brother's casket. And just kind of having this moment of realizing, like this is exactly what God has called me to.

He's called me to use my brokenness and my pain in my story to impact others into share the hope that I found in Jesus. So it's just as hard as it was, it was such a beautiful moment of knowing that I can't give up. I can't give up on this life, but I have to keep going because if I'm here, if I'm still here and alive,

then I still have a purpose and I still have a plan that I need to fulfill for Jesus. So that's kind of when I decided to give my life to the Lord in a really fresh way and decide to use the rest of my days on earth to really just glorify him and to allow him to use whatever ways he could. That's incredible. I love that. I love that your mission was not to become a singer and it wasn't to become, you know,

a famous Christian musician. It was literally to get the name of Jesus out there and to use your brokenness. And I think whenever you have that heart posture of like God, you can take my brokenness and use it in whatever way to shine, glory, like to show people you're glory and to show people you're like, when you come to God with that heart posture, like I think amazing things happen, you know, that willingness and that surrender to say, God, use me, send me in whatever way.

And obviously you would have probably never guessed that that prayer and saying yes to that would lead to what you're doing now. I mean, how could you have even imagined that, you know? But God does exceedingly more than what we could ask for and think of or imagine. Um, where did you, okay, so you're 15 at the time, right? So that's pretty young to be that, like, solid and maturing your faith.

Um, was there a time in your life before then where you felt like really angry and faith, or was it just growing up in church and kind of just having a family who was so rooted in faith? Um, does that make sense? Like was there a time in your life where was it kind of just being so anchored because that's what you've known your whole life? For me, I grew up in a Christian house, but that actually, I never knew God like growing up at all. I would go to church just because my parents made it, go to church and they didn't like, this was really forced their faith on us, but I knew about God. I knew, you know, what to do, what

was right and wrong. I knew the Bible and I had a ton of space in my eyes, but I didn't have a relationship with Jesus. And it was almost like I had the head knowledge, but I didn't have the heart knowledge. I didn't have the connection with Jesus, but I knew everything about him. And so I did have a moment when I was in seventh grade. It was my first day of seventh grade school year. And I was heading down with pretty bad path in my life. I was giving in to just the worldly stuff, temptations are on me, and hanging out with people that

were just bringing me down that path. And so it was kind of a pivotal moment, and just got into middle school and you know how that is? Like, who's that age and all that stuff? And so I was like almost down this really bad path and then I had this new Bible teacher come into our school and he just started like weeping over Jesus.

Like he just couldn't stop crying. He was just so in love with Jesus. And I remember like having this moment of realizing that everything I had been taught as a little girl was really true, that I actually have relationship with Jesus. I could know him incidentally personally. And that was actually like the most pivotal moment

of my entire life was realizing that for myself and it not being my parents' faith, but me kind of blaming it as my own. That was really the moment that I just fell in love with Jesus and I became so on fire for him. And I had watched some pretty rough stuff before then and it was like, this was the first moment that I just felt like I was bound and was loved and I was understood. And it was the sweetest thing ever, like just knowing that God, the creator of the universe

wanted to make me and create me and love me and then had son to die for me. And all those things started to just make sense. And I really started to have relationships with the Lord. I was so cool. I love that. And just a note for people listening, like it wasn't that she was at some conference

and this pastor said something that was so crazy and boom, life-register, it wasn't like she had this moment where she went to Africa and she's like, you know what I'm saying? Like she was literally at school and someone came in who was a Bible teacher who was weeping and so I just want to make that note because I think sometimes people think that God only moves in these radical ways and these radical things but God moves radically through you, you know, through you radically understanding who he is. And so when you walk out in faith and you truly believe God is who he says he is and you're moving or touched by his spirit, that moves the heart as of others. And so I just love that this Bible teacher who

walks in and is just completely madly in love with the Lord and is having this sweet moment of just talking about the Lord. Impact did you in such a way that you go out and now you're reaching like I saw your songs have like 15 one of them has 15 million downloads. Like you have 600,000 monthly listeners and like that impact was sparked by this Bible teacher years ago and your family's faith and obedience suggests stewarding a family and growing a family who loves the Lord. So just a reminder to people out there,

like you know, it doesn't have to be some crazy life that you're living to really lead a life for Christ. You know, you don't have to be the one on stage, you don't have to be the one going to us. You can literally just be where you're at and be so moved by God that it changes people. Some, I love that, that's so good. Okay, so connect the dots first.

So you are at your brother's funeral and you sing what a beautiful name. And now we see you here. How did that happen? Like how, what was the next step after that that really got you into pursuing music? So after my brother passed away and I did that, it's all with a funeral,

I had a 10 of family parents ask me if I would kind of put together like a little chiber video of it and post it to YouTube so that we could just like have it to look back on and like dedicate it to my brother kind of thing. I didn't think anything of it. I did the video, I put it out there and I literally didn't even check like the views or whatever on YouTube. Like I didn't care.

It was just a, it was was just a video for my brother. So then about two months later, we went somewhat viral, and we all had to wear people in Nashville, started to see it. And I was a sophomore in high school at the time, still 15, so young, still really grieving the loss of my brother and just trying to get through every day. And I had someone DM me on Instagram and said that he worked for a manager in Nashville. He was a Christian manager and had developed all these incredible artists and he'd worked with Justin Bieber and that's crazy. And I thought it was this BAM and so I was just like, I'll show my parents and they were like, just delete it. It's fine.

Well then he kept freaking out and we were like, okay delete it, it's fine. Well then he kept freaking out all, and we were like, okay, this seems like it's legit and this is real. So we ended up going to Nashville in January of 2018 and sitting down with my previous manager. And he basically just told us, like this is what it's like to be in the music industry. If you wanna do Christian music, this is what it takes.

A lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice. But obviously, you're doing it for God. You're doing it for His glory and not yourself. And I just remember walking out of there and having this like crazy understanding of just knowing that this is exactly what I was going to do. And that's what that had for me. And so then about eight or nine minutes later, we started working together, started kind of just coming at artists and was still in high school, but I was coming to Nashville and writing songs

and meeting with record labels and doing the whole thing. And then in 2019, I was offered a record deal by Capital Records, which is where I'm at right now. It was just like so surreal to know that God literally had used the loss of my brother and all of this music stuff came from that. And like if that had happened, I probably would not be here where I am today.

So it's just such a cool, just being able to reflect on that is such a gift and knowing that the golfer had such a plan in that. And then I wrote in 2020, obviously that was a crazy year for all of us. I finished a graduated high school in 2020, which was so sad. It didn't get like that. That is so sad. It was crazy. Yeah, it was tough.

And so then that year, I really just looked at year to write the hunting songs and I wrote a hundred and thirty songs. Oh my gosh. Yeah, and so when Jesus came out of that batch and a lot of the record was written that year. So when we just decided to release a song and we picked my Jesus and released it About a year and a half ago maybe a little less than that and well within 24 hours

I had like nine million views on Facebook and I just blew up and It was another testament to the fact that I was doing what God called me to do and I knew it within my heart That that was what he had planned for me. So it's just one of the best journey getting from the few worlds where I am today and knowing within my heart that all of it's, you know, a result of my brother passing away and just knowing that God didn't waste any of the tragedy. And that he used to over again. That's so cool. That's so good. I've just heard so many people, I know listening to him walk through tragic things,

just claim to the hope that God has a purpose in a plan and I know like people say that all the time And it can almost be annoying to hear whenever someone just says that as a vice But whenever someone lays out a story like you just lay that to testimony of like no God Did have a purpose in a plan and God is still walking that out and that is make all of that make sense. That still hurts. But God is still using it for good. And man, that's just, that's such a cool story. So when you wrote my Jesus, do you remember writing that thinking like, this is something like, that's going to be really big?

Or when you wrote it where you just kind of like, okay, here's another song because it's always fascinating that like, sometimes you hear these huge songs and people say oh we were in the room and we knew and then sometimes you hear them say we honestly almost scratched that song it almost didn't make it you know what kind of was that song for y'all. Yeah it's it's so fun hearing all that um so Margie's this was not like I did not expect it to go on or I thought it would reach people, but I had no idea what it was going to do. And none of us did in my team.

Like we would have never asked that I would do what it's done. I do remember when I wrote it, feeling like Jesus is all over this song. But just because Jesus is all over a song, doesn't mean it's gonna go number one. You know, it's like the words presence in my opinion is on every song in Christian music. I believe that he's in every song but sometimes he's just his plans are different and sometimes

a song will never win or sometimes it will not you know not even get to top 20 but it's still impacting people. Yeah and our goal playing the night that it came out. I just said, Lord, even if this song is meant for one person, would you just allow this song to be a beacon of light in a hope? And would you help this song help someone's life, it changed their life? And you did that, you know, times thousands. And there's so many people who have been saved through this song. That's awesome. And it's just so cool being able to look back on that and see all that he's done through it. That is so cool. I love that. I also love that you graduated high school in the mids of all this like hard work. So for me, I was working a lot when I was in high school as well.

In my life kind of took a pivot whenever I was a junior in high school, but we had started our show since I was a freshman at high school. But when realized I wanted to do ministry about 17 and I was a junior going into my senior year and that's kind of whenever I started really pursuing a ministry and it ended up moving to Nashville so kind of a similar story and you know I think a lot at times people look at people who are well known whether that's famous or influencer or singers, whatever they are. And people think like, oh, that's what I want to do. But nobody realizes the work that you put in, or the hours are how hard it is.

So speak to the people out there who are like, look, I want to, I want to do music, or I want to be, this or I want to be that, but kind of towards that hard work, because you said you had a moment where someone set you down, it was like, hey, this is what it takes. And honestly, like, even whatever you're going to do in life, like, it's going to take a lot, you know, if you're going to really pursue anything, even if it's what the Lord has called you to, that isn't mean that just because the Lord calls you, he's going to give you every single thing. Yeah, he'll equip you to do it, but he doesn't lay it all out there. You know, you have to work towards it and you have to walk with him in it.

So speak to that a little bit for the people out there who are younger, who are your age, who are wanting to go for it, but just needing to have, have an understanding that the work is going to be hard, not growing weary and doing. What is good? Yeah. For me, I just knew that, you know, we know, we're just so blessed to even be alive and to have Jesus and to have His forgiveness and grace. And I knew that I just wanted to spend my life, the rest of my life, just worshiping

Him and glorifying Him and working for Him in a sense, like helping advance the kingdom of God. And so I think that was really like what got me through a lot of my times where I mean, it is a lot of hard work. People think it's a glamorous life. You know, like they see you on here to the last and they think, oh, you have like this great life. And it's very far from that. Like Christian music is, it's hard work.

I mean, every genre is, but Christian music is doing it for God's glory, which makes all of it worth it. And it's so much fun. It's beautiful hearing stories and testimonies. But you're sacrificing a lot. You're sacrificing your family. You're sacrificing pretty much your life in the sense of, you know, going out and doing shows and all these things, like you're giving your life

for Jesus to kind of be you in that way. And so it's really hard. And there's a lot of days that I wake up and then I did wake up where I was just sad. I just miss Jacob or I'm going to hang out with my sister one day, but I can't if I have this or that. And there's a lot of hard work in it. But I would just encourage people out there who realize that we are God's children and she is in control of everything. And we are literally here on earth to serve

Jesus. Like that is our purpose to serve Him, glorify Him, to worship Him, and to tell others about it. And you know, whatever job you may be in, you know, you can do that to a certain extent. And so I think just keeping my perspective on that really helped me. And all the hard days of knowing that I am not here, just to have a fun life and to do whatever. Like I'm here to serve God, to serve the creator of the universe. And as hard as that may be, as long days and tiring and all those things, like it's worth it because I know that I'm serving God and I'm doing it for a greater purpose than myself. And I think

that that's really what makes it worth it for me. That's so good. That's so good. And honestly, if you read the Bible, you know, well, if you look at Christian culture and you're like, oh, if I'm going to do this, it looks awesome. I mean, it just means that God is with you, so you're gonna be happy and it's all gonna work out until I get to succeed. That's actually not the case. And if you read the Bible, literally, when Jesus is encouraging his disciples to follow me,

he says, pick up your cross. It's like lay your life down. And everyone there knew what he was talking about. Like if you got to pick up your cross, that means crucifixion. You know, that means literally surrendering your life. And so the road to following Jesus is not always, it's not always easy.

That doesn't mean that it's not so insanely fulfilling. That doesn't mean that you still don't have the peace that surpasses all understanding and joy that is a strength and love that's reckless and all these things. And so yeah, it's not easy easy and I think people need to understand that because I think sometimes people go in not understanding that in the minute it's hard they're like well God where are you but that is I mean God's not in it and if they

get pushed back they're like oh well God must not know it guys still there God still called you but sometimes it does get Okay, so you've had other songs come out and amazing things that you've done. I actually just listened to your song Mama. Was it Mama's this morning? Yeah. I loved it. You know, one to ask you about how that was just like doing a collab like that with Hillary Scott, right? Was that so exciting? Yes, oh my goodness. I grew up listening to Lady A, and so, getting to just meet Hillary and sing with her and do the music video with her,

it was real for me. She's so talented, and it was so fun. That was so cool, and that was awesome. And then, like I mentioned, I got to give you a K-level word about two months ago. What has that been like? Just like, you know, obviously we talked about the hard things of following Jesus, but like the good things.

What are those moments been to you? Whenever you stand up there and you have a Caleb award and you're standing in front of all these people who, you know, you grew up listening to, I mean, even with what a beautiful name. I broke was there, you know, like, what does that feel like? It's so surreal for me. I remember standing up on stage. First of all, meeting you was so surreal.

That's so cool. That's so fun. But that was amazing. And then just getting to see, like you said, all of these people that have poured into me, and they didn't even realize that, you know, I'm a whole life list, I was being decrysterned right now and Bethel, music being there. And just like these people that I've looked up to my whole life

Looking like at me as I'm giving this speech. It was so surreal for me But honestly, I think it just it's the most beautiful Being in the world to be able to do music for Jesus and for his glory And I remember standing on stage and just kind of like how in the smell of reflecting back on my brother and All that I went through with him using him and just being so grateful that God did not waste the tragedy But that he ended something so beautiful and that really just makes me It just makes everything so worth it when that's the end of the day knowing that I'm doing this for him and his story. And I think another thing that's really incredible is the testimonies.

Even just standing on that stage, I was thinking about all of those testimonies I received from people all over the world. They said that my Jesus or one of my other songs, you know, can completely change their lives. So I have one person to know me that they like check themselves into a rehab facility. When they heard my Jesus, they gave up drugs and alcohol so that they could have a relationship with Jesus and just so many stories. That's so cool.

Yeah, and it's like, that is so cool. And that's why I do what I do in it. It just makes it so worth it for me. That is so cool. Yeah, and it's like, that is so cool. And that's why I do what I do in it. It just makes it so worth it for me. That is so cool. Actually, I wrote down a review that I saw on your website and it said, it was someone that went to your show. And they said, the show is amazing. Our family love the show.

And we worship time together. This is my 11 year old daughter's first concert. And she was so excited to see Anne Wilson. The picture I have of her waiting for her to come out so adorable. I'm so thankful for a new Christian artist and my prayer is that God will use her to win ever many souls. And I just thought that was like really sweet because one of my favorite things is when you know people come to my conferences they'll be like you know 20 years old or whatever but they have their mom with them or they have their grandma with them. And I just think it's really cool,

whenever you're able to do something that reaches generations, you know, and you're doing something that like moms are being touched, grandma is being touched, daughters are being touched, not to mention grandpas and dads and sons and men and people who are in seasons who are not and all this kind of stuff. And you're just doing something that's so special, and it's so, there's a lot of people that sing, there's a lot of people with the right music, there's a lot of people do that. But you're doing it with an anointing

and with a gifting from the Lord, and you're doing it really out of obedience and a willingness and it's touching people. And I'm so thankful that these 11 year old girls have you to look up to. And I'm so thankful that these 11 year old girls have you to look up to and I'm so thankful that people are age and Every age have you because you know, there's not that many people that are young Living a life where Jesus that sold out like you're doing it and it is so refreshing So refreshing to see and it's a joy to champion and so man

I'm so grateful to have you on the Pike Guys. You're going to have to come back, like I said, with your new projects, your your, your invite is always open. And I just appreciate you so much. Thanks for being on the Pike Guys. Yes, thank you so much for having me. It was so good to talk to you. you