Ryan Stevenson
Just As You Are
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Produced by Christopher Stevens (TobyMac, Crowder), who also co-penned the song with Stevenson, “Just As You Are” reunites the longtime friends to capture a defining moment in Stevenson’s faith journey: “I was making it my exception to try and earn Your affection/But that all faded away, when I heard You say/Ooooo child, don’t ya know I love ya/Just as, just as you are.”
“One of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, who wrote The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba’s Child, once gave a powerful message on the Gospel,” Stevenson explains of the song’s inspiration. “Sharing as if God was speaking directly to him, he said, ‘God loves you, just as you are, not as you should be; because none of us are as we should be.’ That was a profound statement for me, and one that has since shaped my perspective about God as well as the way I perceive others.”
“I believe this is paramount in understanding the Truth about the finished work of Jesus,” Stevenson adds. “His sacrifice made a way for us—not our own efforts and striving. Knowing that HE began a good work, we can take a deep breath and rest because He is faithful to His word to perform it.”
“As Chris and I were reminiscing about summertime grooves from our college days together, it felt like a no brainer to let the joy out; to create music that not only has an amazing feel, but also a deep, meaningful message,” explains Stevenson. “I believe the Lord has given me confidence and an assurance to share the music and sounds that move me most. This is the music I’ve wanted to put out for 12 years, and I finally feel the release to do it!”
About the Artist
Ryan Stevenson
Following a seven-year stint as a paramedic, Pacific Northwest native Ryan Stevenson signed an exclusive agreement with Gotee Records in 2013 after capturing TobyMac’s attention by co-writing the No. 1 and Grammy® nominated single “Speak Life.” His first recording for the label was the Holding Nothing Back EP in 2013, which garnered the Top 25 single “Holding Nothing Back. This was followed by 2015’s full-length album Fresh Start which featured the 14 consecutive weeks No. 1 radio single “Eye of the Storm”. The follow-up album No Matter What was released in 2018 and features five Billboard Christian Airplay Top 30 singles, “The Gospel”, “Lift You Up, “No Matter What”, “Child In Your Arms” & “With Lifted Hands.” With four No. 1 Billboard singles (three as an artist and one as a co-writer), a GRAMMY® nomination, Billboard Music Award nomination, two K-LOVE Fan Awards nominations and a 2017 Dove Award plus major tour bills with the likes of TobyMac, Newsboys, MercyMe and Matt Maher, Ryan has already distinguished himself as a rare talent whose unique perspective guides his honest lyrics and sonic sensibilities.
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The Lyrics
I’ve been wasting way too much of my time
Living up in my mind, trying to do it all right
Spinning my wheels, thinking that there’s something I could do, to be more loved by You
I was making it my exception to try and earn Your affection
But that all faded away, when I heard You say
Ooooo child, don’t ya know I love ya
Just as, just as you are
Oooo child, don’t ya know I love ya
Just as, just as, just as you are
You turned the light on, and flipped the script
I’m suddenly seeing what I used to miss
Ya got me livin’ in the present tense, with a love so deep, You’re the greatest gift
Feeling light as a feather, free and without the pressure, of ever losing Your grace since
Since I heard you say
You ain’t gotta try so hard, try so hard
You’ve always been safe in My arms
You ain’t gotta try so hard, try so hard
You’re safe in my arms, in My arms