Lauren Daigle grew up amid all things Cajun. As a young child, the Lafayette, Louisiana, native loved to sing but never thought her passion would take her anywhere. But when a serious illness kept her homebound for two years, God gave her a vision of a career in the music industry. And though it seemed impossible, she simply responded, “If I’m supposed to do this, God, you’re just going to have to make a way for me to get out of bed and make it happen.”
Years later, He did.
Daigle’s debut album, How Can It Be, was released in 2015. And her most recent effort, Look Up Child, just debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200—the highest-charting Christian album this year, as well as the biggest-selling by a female Christian artist in more than 20 years. Given such popularity, it’s no surprise that her single “You Say” has topped the Hot Christian Songs chart as well as reaching the Top 10 on iTunes.
Daigle’s voice sounds similar to Amy Winehouse and Adele, carrying with it those same soulful, sultry, alto tones. Speaking of voices, that’s the subject of “You Say” as well. Namely, the contrast between Lauren Daigle’s own nagging voices of doubt compared to God’s voice of love and affirmation.
“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough,” she confesses early on here. “Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up.” Daigle also wonders, “Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?” And she asks God, “Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know.”
But in the face of those doubts and insecurities, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter clings to the words filled with hope and truth that God whispers to her: “You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing/You say I am strong when I think I am weak/You say I am held when I am falling short.” And finally, “When I don’t belong, You say I am Yours.”
As Daigle allows God’s words to speak louder than her own, she realizes, “The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me.” That’s because, “In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity.” Her confidence in Christ prompts a worshipful response as she sings, “Taking all I have now I’m laying it at Your feet/You have every failure, God/You’ll have every victory.” Because no matter what may come, or what lies may try and deceive, she insists, “Yes, I believe/What You say of me.”
(Some parents may want to know that in her music video for this song, Daigle wears a modest crop top.)
In an interview with Billboard, Daigle opened up about her own walk of faith and her experiences in the entertainment industry. Originally, she had no desire to be tied to a Christian label, as it often carries with it a facade of perfection that can seem disconnected from real life:
“When I was sick, I told God, ‘Whatever you do don’t send me to Christian music, I don’t want to be associated with any of that.’ Of course, that’s where I land. He had to show me more of what I actually cared about, through the process.”
And her true heart, as she describes it, is for “everyone to know that there’s just hope and love for every person on this planet.” Accordingly, “You Say,” showcases her desire to reach out to those who may not know or feel the love of God.
Oftentimes, we allow the voice of discouragement and disillusionment to speak. It can be so hard to tune out the negative in favor of the positive. But we must choose which voice we will listen to.
Lauren Daigle’s song offers a beautiful reminder of all God says about us: We are loved, seen, heard, held. We are not the sum of our failures or our successes. No, our value is far deeper than our own efforts because it is rooted in who God is and who God says we are: You say I am Yours.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
