Seven years ago in May, singer Natasha Owen’s father accidentally shot himself in the chest while cleaning a gun and died. Natasha didn’t allow herself to grieve. She soon spiraled downward into a deep depression. Then she was asked if she would lead the worship team at her church. Reluctantly she agreed — and the music started her healing process.

Now Natasha tells The Stream she hopes her music can provide healing and restoration to everyone.

‘God Will Help Heal You’

“I couldn’t grieve,” said Natasha, of her father’s sudden death. “I was the strong one. I was trying to hold everything together for my family.” For a year she ran from her emotions. But soon they caught up to her. She became angry and she questioned why he died. Then depression set in. “Some days I was so broken, I thought, ‘If I can just get to church.'”

Her pastor called one day to see if she would become the music minister at their church. “The answer was ‘no.'” Natasha recalled. She’d always had anxiety about speaking in front of people. After her father’s death, matters were even worse. She told the pastor, “I can’t get out of bed everyday, how can I motivate people?” But he was persistent. “I believe if you will step out in faith to minister to people God will help heal you,” he said.

“I knew he was right,” Natasha said.

Restoration Through Music

At the same time, Natasha knew she’d have some hurdles to clear first. “I had to overcome the anxiety. I was petrified.” Plus, she said she didn’t feel up to the task. “I wasn’t a music major. I wasn’t qualified for it.” So Natasha began listening to praise and worship songs at home before she got out of bed in the morning. “Every song was about restoration. Within 60 seconds, I was out of bed.” Natasha realized that this was a battle of the mind. She’d write scriptures on her arm and listen to music.

The first time she stepped on stage, Natasha felt healing. 

‘I Made It Through’

Unfortunately, Natasha’s church began having trouble. “It was down-spiraling,” she said. She knew she’d have to leave, but she didn’t want to give up the music that had come to mean so much to her. “It was attached to my healing,” she explained. Still, one Tuesday night she resigned. “I was heartbroken.” But not for long. That night she received a text from fellow musician and producer Jacob Lowery asking if she would like to make a CD. So, in 2013, she recorded her first CD called “I made it through.” 

The Beginning

Soon after, Natasha was given the chance to open for Michael W. Smith. It was her father’s birthday — she knew it was a God thing. Although feeling blessed for her quick success, she also felt “unprepared.” “There’s no room [in this field] for error or mistakes. I felt almost crippling anxiety. My anxiety was through the roof. I was so overwhelmed.”

“God is in this,” a friend reminded her. “God never calls the equipped, but equips who He calls.” So she prayed. “God, I will prepare and do my best, but you’ve got to do the rest.”

‘What Do I Do From Here?’

After the Michael W. Smith concert the old depression came back. “I thought, ‘What do I do from here?’ To me, there was nothing else to do. I prayed, ‘God, what do I do from here?'” Three days later, she had an answer. A friend’s dream led to Natasha embracing the theme of “rising above” for her next album. “Rising above is the true message,” she explained. “I wanted the CD to be about rising above.”

She got a meeting in Nashville with heavyweight producer Ed Cash, writer of “How Great is Our God.” In the middle of the meeting, he excused himself and left the room. Naturally, Natasha thought she had blown the meeting. But when Ed returned, he’d written the chorus for a song. “I don’t know you very well,” he said. “But God gave me this song. God wants me to help you.” He told her he’d produce her next album. The song was “We Will Rise.”

Even with all her success, Natasha has had moments of uncertainty. “I questioned one day, ‘Did God orchestrate this?’ I’d rather have my dad. It’s His will we don’t understand. Still, Natasha says she is thankful for what she’s I’ve been through because it helps her to help others.

The Mission

Helping others is her mission. “I never want my ministry to stop at a platform,” she said. She maintains her own Facebook page, natashaowensmusic, and responds to people directly. Natasha notes that she ministers off-stage much more than on-stage. While she acknowledges that some Christian music artists are more about industry, she’s not.

“We’re not about that,” she said. “We must be about the ministry.”

Natasha’s latest album, “We Will Rise,” was released on July 7. To get more information or view concert dates, please visit natashaowensmusic.com.