Freedom is Just ahead if you'll keep singing it

​At last year's Country Music Awards, a 39-year-old artist named Jelly Roll was honored as the new artist of the year. He might be a bit older than the typical new artist of the year winner, but that's the least atypical part of his story.

Jelly Roll experienced significant childhood abuse, fell into a life of addiction, was incarcerated on many occasions early in his life; to say his life has been challenging would be an understatement.

But there he was Sunday night, at the Grammy Awards, nominated as the best new artist in all musical genres. There he was, sitting among some of the greatest musical talents of our time.

He didn't win the award. But how far away was a Grammy nomination when he was in jail? How far away was it when he was plotting a way to get his next high?

I remember the first song I ever heard Jelly Roll sing. I was running. The song 'Save Me' came on. I remember how deeply I felt it. I remember the tears.

I remember forever these words:

All of this drinkin' and smokin' is hopeless but feel like it's all that I need
Somethin' inside of me's broken, I hold on to anything that sets me free

In just two lines, Jelly Roll summed up much of my life. In two lines, he summed up the struggle of SO many people's lives. So many who are clinging to anything they can get ahold of to be free from their brokenness.

Through it all, though, Jelly Roll kept writing and singing. Writing and singing and ultimately believing that it would be music that would one day deliver his most freeing freedom.

He literally sang hope into his life, and now he is singing it into ours. Dark to light. His to ours.

I read stories like Jelly Roll's and wonder, if he can overcome all THAT, what on earth is human incapable of overcoming?

If he can use his God-given gifts to overcome all THAT, what on earth is the limit on my God-given gifts?

He is right, you know. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. Freedom is up ahead, not behind. Freedom is a gift, but not one back there, it's just up ahead.

Up ahead, where we get up every day and write or draw or sing or run or meditate or pray or do whatever we need to do to quiet the demons in our lives just long enough to see.

See out that windshield.

Maybe you don't see anything as grand as a Grammy award nomination in your future.

Neither did Jelly Roll.

Still, he just kept singing. So should we.

Somethin' inside of me's broken, I hold on to anything that sets me free

I encourage you. Hold on to the windshield.