CCM: You mentioned that you had to include songs like “My Savior My God.” Are you surprised by the life that some songs have taken and the fact that you’ll likely have to play that as long as you continue to make music?
AS: When I say that I’m not surprised, it’s not because I did a good job writing the song at all. Let’s be very clear about that. I believe that if God wants to place his hand of blessing on a thing, it’s going to accomplish His will. In a completely mundane sense, I am absolutely surprised because it is from an old hymn called “I Am Not Skilled To Understand” by Dora Greenwell. They’re lyrics that impacted me out of an old hymnal, so much so that I wanted to share those words through song with my own people when I was a worship leader. I didn’t even know the melody, but I was so moved to share it that I wrote a simple melody to make it as accessible as possible. I wanted people to be able to grab onto it quickly.

In that sense, I wasn’t trying to create a piece of art. I wasn’t even signed to a record label at the time. I just wanted to write a song that my church could sing, because it would be healing to their hearts, to admit that we’re not skilled to understand all of the mysteries of God. Instead, we’re going to trust that he loves me, that he’s alive, that he’ll always be there for me. That’s the goal. I never get tired of singing it and I know there are people who need to hear it every time I perform.

Aaron Shust, CCM Magazine - image

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