“If I look back, I know that God has always been there,” country music star Jo Dee Messina told People magazine recently. “I want to make sure that people know that God is good.”
God’s Hand at Work
Jo Dee Messina, known for 1990s country music hits like “Bye Bye” and “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” revealed last year that she was diagnosed with cancer. In a Facebook post, Team JDM wrote that Messina was exploring all options but had faith in God.
As many of you know, Jo Dee is a believer who feels blessed to be surrounded by the love of God — a love that has brought her the inner peace. On her lowest of low days, she has been able to see God’s hand at work and feel His love as she continues her walk. It is because of our Father’s love that she has been able to find the beauty in the days that could have brought her the most fear, gratitude in moments that most would call unfair, and companionship during times she might feel the loneliest.
God is Good
After Messina’s cancer diagnosis, she wrote a song called “Here.” According to producer Seth Mosley, listening to Messina perform the song in the studio was a powerful experience. “To see Jo Dee singing ‘there’s no pain, there’s no fear, here’ through the cancer and the chaos that she is walking through … God is going to use her and her story to intercept people in their pain and remind them that He is near.”
In a post-diagnosis concert, Messina told her fans about her struggle. “I basically said ‘FYI, this is what’s going on.’ It doesn’t change the fact that God is good.” Messina told People that, while she struggles, she trusts in God.
“I’m leaning on God,” she says. “I’m letting Him take charge. It’s what’s best for my soul right now. Every biopsy and every result … it feels like an eternity goes by. I know that God has me. I’m filled with gratitude and joy.”
Song of Faith
The singer recently released a new single, the worship song “Reckless Love.” The song has a message of faith and Messina isn’t too confident that the country radio stations will play it. But for her, it doesn’t matter.
“A lot of people around me have been frightened to release it to the country format,” she said. “I don’t have that fear. There is someone out there that needs to hear it. I don’t care what is current or what is going to be successful, but country music is my home format. Why not share the message? God is not formatted.”
The song tells a story that people need to hear, explained Messina. “It tells the news that people need to know, that God provides a love that we will never understand. Human love is so conditional. His love isn’t.”
While she’s tired often and sometimes weak, she’s getting her energy back.
“I have hope in my heart, so I am grateful.”
Listen to Jo Dee Messina sing “Reckless Love.”
